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Divine Healing 



or 



SOUL AND BODY. 



ALSO 



HOW GOD HEALS THE SICK, AND THE CONDITIONS UPON WHICH 

THEY ARE RESTORED; GIVING WONDERFUL TESTIMONIES OP 

HIS MIRACULOUS POWER IN THESE LAST DAYS. 



By E E. BYRUM. 



GRAND JUNCTION MICH,: ^Q^X 
GOSPEL TRUMPET PUBLISHING CO, 

1892, 2<__ 



.2 



Copyright 1892, 

By E, E. BTRUM, 



AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



In sending forth this volume for the benefit of 
suffering humanity, it is hoped that many who are 
bound down by sin and r kness, and oppressed of 
the devil, will be enr 1 „d to better understand the 
will of God concerning themselves; and by a closer 
walk with him, can by faith unlock the rich treasure 
house of the Lord, and enjoy the blessings of his 
love as never before. 

Many volumes have been written on the subject of 
Divine Healing, yet most people — even professing 
Christians all over the land — are skeptics regarding 
the same, because they have been taught from their 
youth up that " the day of miracles is past." Such 
has been taught at home, from the press and the 
pulpit; inasmuch as to say that the Lord's power is 
limited; making Him a finite being, instead of infinite 

It is the aim of this work to show forth the prin- 
ciples of salvation, and how to reach the highest 
attainments; and encourage people to believe the 
Word of God, and not fear to walk out upon His 
promises. As the subject treated upon is one against 
which there is much prejudice, I trust no one will 

in 



iv AUTHORS PREFACE. 

lay the book aside until the whole of it is read and 
compared with the sacred Word. 

God forbid that any one whose name is mentioned 
in this book should receive self-praise or glory for 
the works wrought through them by the power of 
God; but may He only be adored, who is worthy of 
all honor and praise. May the Lord bless the dear 
ones who have so kindly aided in this work by send- 
ing in their testimonies; also a dear brother who 
kindly contributed the chapter on " The Use of Di- 
vine Healing." For want of space we have had to 
omit many precious and wonderful testimonies 
which were sent in for publication. 

That our heavenly Father will bless each reader of 
this book, with a fervent trust in Him, and enable 
them to enjoy the blessing of health, and full salva 
tion, is the earnest prayer of your humble servant. 
Yours in Him. 

E. E. Byrum. 

Grand Junction, Mich., April 7, 18Q2. 



CONTESTS. 



Part I. — Divine Healing of The Soul. 



The Darkness of Sin . 

The Way Out . 

The Sinner's Call . 

Conviction 

Consecration 

Faith .... 

Conversion . 

Sanctification 

The Two Works of Grace 



Part II. — Divine Healing 

The Doctrine of Healing 
Is The Day of Healing Past? 
The Use of Divine Healing 
Old Testament Witnesses 
New Testament Witnesses . 
The Apostasy . 
The Evening Light 
The Promise of His Power 
The Gifts of Healing . 
Who Are The Elders? 
What Kind of Oil to Use . 
Anointing and Consecration 
Can I Be Healed? 
Sick For The Glory of God 
The Use of Medicine . 



of The Body. 



Paffe. 

9 
10 
ii 
13 
15 
17 
23 
26 

34 



49 

53 

59 

67 

76 

87 

95 

99 

100 

105 

107 

107 

109 

109 

112 



VI 



C0NTEN7S. 



Means Which God Blesses 

The Prayer of Faith 

Walking Out Upon His Promises 

Resisting Temptation . 

Resisting The Truth 

Hindrances to Healing 

Casting Out Devils . 

Sending Anointed Handkerchiefs 

Spiritualism .... 

Christian Science . . 

Witnesses Since The Apostles 

Part III. — Witnesses of To Day. 

A Wonderful Deliverance . 

The Blind Eyes Opened . 

Nine Years an Invalid . 

Corroborating Testimony 

Physicians Baffled for Eleven Years 

Deliverance from Disobedience 

Healed, Soul, Body and Eyes 

Motherhood .... 

He Healeth Our Diseases . 

Touched with Divine Power 

A Trial of Faith . 

Marvelous Healing of The Soul 

The Family Physician . 

Healed of Rheumatism and a Stiff Joint 

A Crushed Arm Healed 

Healed of Tumor .... 

At Death's Door . ..".'*. 

Heart Disease Cured 

Healed of Catarrh .... 

Healed of Cancer .... 

Restoration of Eyesight 



113 
116 
118 
121 
122 
123 
124 
126 
128 
130 
131 



135 
142 

145 
149 

151 
152 

155 

157 
163 
165 
170 

175 

182 

183 
187 
189 
190 
191 
192 
194 
196 



CONTENTS. 



VII 



Nasal Catarrh Instantly Healed 

A Wonderful Cure of Consumption 

A Little Boy's Prayer Answered 

How God Delivered Me 

A Warning Against Opium 

Devils Cast Out .... 

The Blind and Lame See and Walk 

Broken Bone Healed . 

An Anointed Handkerchief Applied 

The Chastening Rod . 

A Friend in Affliction 

Crutches Thrown Away 

Healing of Cancer and Consumption 

The Lord is My Physician . 

A Wonderful Answer to Prayer 

A Change of Physicians 

Confirming Testimony 



197 

, 199 

202 
. 206 

217 
. 219 

221 
. 223 

224 
. 226 

230 
• 233 

235 

238 

239 

. 241 
242 



DIVINE HEALING OF THE SOUL. 




PART 1. 
CHAPTER I. 

THE DARKNESS OF SIN. 



pN reading the sacred Word, we find that 
God has made provision for the healing 
[of both soul and body. The Psalmist 
'says it is the Lord "who forgiveth all 
I thine iniquities; who healeth all thy dis- 
eases." — Psa. 103: 3. 

When man was first placed here on 
earth he was on a plane with God; was 
in a holy state, without sin or sickness; 
but through his disobedience "sin entered into the 
world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon 
all men, for that all have sinned." — Rom. 5: 12. 
This death was a spiritual one, and was the result 
of the seed of sin which the enemy of souls planted 
in them causing them to be driven from the garden 
of Eden. 

Adam was born in the likeness of God, but after 
his fall by sin he begat children in his own likeness, 

9 



io DIVINE HEALING 

after his own image. Thus all persons thereafter, 
inherited this evil nature; and as soon as they reach 
the age of accountability, and know the difference 
between good and evil, they become transgressors. 
Although innocent at birth, but few years pass by 
until this inherited nature leads them into the ways 
of sin: and the "wages of sin is death." 

The person who is traveling the way of sin, and 
rapidly going the downward road to ruin without a 
ray of heavenly light, indeed has a sin-sick soul, 
which only the great Physician can heal. 



CHAPTER II. 

THE WAY OUT. 



Through all this spiritual darkness there is but 
one way out, and that is by the way of the cross. It 
is through the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed 
upon the cross of Calvary, that the atonement was 
made for our sins. "For God so loved the world 
that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever 
believeth in him should not perish, but have ever- 
lasting life." — Jno. 3: 16. 

The prophets of old foretold the coming of this 
great Redeemer who would redeem the people from 
their sins. Yea, even the angel of the Lord, told 
Joseph that his wife should bring forth a son, and 
said: "Thou shalt call his name JESUS: and he shall 



OF SOUL AND BODY. u 

save his people from their sins." His life was a 
sinless one, yet he was reviled and persecuted on 
every hand, and even suffered the agonies of death 
upon the cross, that poor vile sinners might have 
eternal life, and an everlasting inheritance with him 
in glory. He says, "I am the way, the truth, and 
the life." 

We are to take Christ for our example, "who did 
no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who 
when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he 
suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself 
to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self 
bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, 
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: 
by whose stripes ye were healed." — I Peter 2: 22-24. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE SINNER'S CALL. 

The Bible teaches us that there is a future home 
prepared for all mankind where they will dwell 
throughout eternity. For the wicked, it is a place 
of endless torment in hell, from whence there is no 
returning; no future redemption beyond the grave. 
For the righteous, there is a home of everlasting 
peace and joy in heaven where they will forever 
praise God in glory. 



12 DIVINE HEALING 

We have a gracious God, one whose mercies can 
not be fathomed; they are boundless, and are ex- 
tended unto all. We are free moral agents, that is, — 
it is our privilege to choose Christ as our Savior, or 
reject him, and whatever the decision may be, our 
choice is either heaven or hell. It is not the will of 
the Father that any one should perish, and he com- 
mands all men everywhere to repent. 

Dear reader, are you burdened with sin, and your 
life made miserable on account of the lost condition 
of your soul? Remember that Jesus is the door into 
the kingdom and he is still calling: "Come unto me, 
all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will 
give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of 
me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall 
find rest unto your souls: for my yoke is easy, and 
my burden is light." — Matt. 1 1 : 28-30. 

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, 
and he that hath no money; come ye, buy and eat; 
yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and 
without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for 
that which is not bread? and your labor for that 
which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, 
and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul 
delight itself in fatness." 

"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye 
upon him while he is near. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 



13 



"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unright- 
eous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the 
Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our 
God, for he will abundantly pardon. "-Isa. 55: 1,2,6,7. 

"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be 
white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they 
shall be as wool." — Isa. 1: 18. 

"Whosoever will may come." O what precious 
promises! No one is excluded if they will obey the 
call and do His commands." Seek and ye shall find." 
"Knock and it shall be opened unto you." 

The sinner hears these words of the Lord spoken, 
and the gentle calls bring conviction upon his soul. 



CHAPTER IV. 

CONVICTION. 

As the sinner begins to realize his condition before 
God, eternity stares him in the face, and sin weighs 
heavy upon his soul. The darkness increases and 
the burden becomes greater until life is miserable. 
O what a condition! lost! forever lost unless God 
extends his mercy and offers deliverance to the captive 
soul. The sentence has gone forth from the mouth 
of the Lord, " Except ye repent ye shall all likewise 
perish." Yet many harden their hearts, and go on 
heedless and apparently unconcerned, but that does 
not change the sentence in tke least. When anyone 



14 DIVINE HEALING 

is arraigned before the courts of justice for some 
crime or misdemeanor, and is tried according to the 
laws of the land and found guilty, then the supreme 
judge passes the sentence of punishment. It then 
makes no difference whether that person feels that 
he will be punished or not, the punishment will be 
carried out just the same. Just so with the sinner 
who has transgressed the law of God, and disobeyed 
his holy word: God calls upon him to repent and 
make restitution. And the refusal of the same, 
and utter rejection of the commands and laws of the 
Lord will bring his judgments upon such a person. 
And when life on earth shall pass away, eternity will 
reveal the awful fact that the penalty is to be carried 
out, and the wrath of a just God will forever be upon a 
doomed soul. 

Conviction is not feeling, as many suppose, but 
conviction of sin generally brings on a feeling of re- 
morse. It is then when mercy reaches forth a helping 
hand of deliverance, but to reject the proffered help 
is to drive away the gentle Spirit which inclined the 
soul to turn to God, and a continual rejection may 
so harden the heart as to drive away the feeling of 
remorse; but the case has already been tried before 
the great tribunal of God and the decision rendered, 
guilty. The doom is eternal punishment unless 
repentance is made before life closes the mortal 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 



15 



scene. There is still hope for those who will yet 
turn unto the Lord. 

A knowledge of the condition of the soul is sufficient, 
without a worked-up feeling about the matter. But 
it takes something more to set the heart right than 
merely being convicted of sin. It requires a genuine 
consecration, and submission of all things unto God 
and a willingness to forsake sin and do his will. 



CHAPTER V. 

CONSECRATION. 

We would not picture the horrors of hell, nor present 
the awful doom of sinners and urge them unto repent- 
ance, could we not point them to a better place; one 
prepared only for the redeemed to dwell/with Christ in 
glory. That place is heaven. A place where no 
sorrow can enter; and the blood-washed throng enter 
the joys of the Lord to go no more out forevermore. 
Such a place is worth gaining at the cost of all things, 
and it takes an unconditional surrender to God in 
order to be fitted for entrance. This life is the dress- 
ing room for j the future. We must have on the 
wedding garment and be ready with our lamps trimmed 
and burning when the Bridegroom comes, otherwise 
we will be like the five foolish virgins, forever shutout. 
The soul now begins to earnestly cry out for mercy, 
saying, " What shall I do to be saved?" The inspired 



16 DIVINE HEALING 

Word answers, Repent of your sins. Acts 17: 30. 

" Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your 
sins may be blotted out." — Acts 3: 19. 

" Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish." — 
Luke 13: 3, 5. 

First, Forsake your sins. Isa. 55:7. 

Second, Confess your sins. Prov. 28: 13. 

11 If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to 
forgive us our sins." — 1 Jno. 1:9. 

" Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt 
be saved." — Acts 16: 31; Jno. 3: 16, 18. 

To make the necessary consecration to bring the 
soul out of the darkness of sin into the light of heaven, 
requires something more than going through a mere 
form. It takes a yielding to the will of God; a de- 
termination to forsake all sin and follow Jesus; an 
action in response to his commands. 

When persons have done what the Lord requires 
of them, they will find the Lord true to his promise. 
He says if you confess your sins he will forgive: if 
you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you shall be 
saved; and many other precious promises are given. 
To acknowledge your sins and then continue doing 
the same as before would not be Bible confession, 
neither would God accept such, for the evil man is 
commanded to forsake his ways. The moment the 
consecration is complete, the Lord answers prayer 



OF SOUL AND BODY. iy 

by doing the work. But there are too many like 
Ananias and Sapphira, who try to keep back a part of 
the price, and hide it away for future use for themselves ; 
are unwilling to make a complete surrender, just as 
if they could hide something from the all-searching 
eye of God, who seeth all things, and knoweth the 
most secret thoughts. He knows when a consecration 
is a sham and when it is genuine, and his contracts 
always stand filled and signed, ready to pass at full 
value as soon as the conditions are met on our part.. 

CHAPTER VI. 

FAITH. 

Faith in God is taking him at his word, and moving 
out uponhis promises with all confidence and sincerity 
without a doubt or fear. It is the " substance of 
things hoped for, the evidence ofj things not seen." 
"But without faith' it is impossible to please him; for 
he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and 
that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek 
him." — Heb. n: I, 6. 

How often people come to a point of consecration 
where they say they have done all the Word of God 
requires of them, and yet cannot claim the blessing- 
of God! What is the trouble? If the consecration 
is complete the promises of the Word can be claimed 
without a doubt, whether a person has any outward 



18 DIVINE HEALING 

evidence or not. If we believe God, why hesitate to 
count his promises true and claim them as our own? 
There is a lesson which every one must learn who 
are seeking blessings from the treasure house of the 
Lord, and that is to believe they do receive that for 
which they ask; and that God does hear now and 
answer the request the very moment the conditions 
of his word are met. Remember the Savior said: 
"What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe 
that ye receive them and ye shall have them. "-Mark 
11:24. These promises are to his children; those 
who walk not after the things of this world, but have 
forsaken all things that would bind them to the sinful 
pleasures of life. They are for any one who will 
forsake sin and obey God. 

Genuine faith in God is something more than moving 
out upon his promises no further than we can see 
with our natural eyes, and believing only as far as we 
can see, and as providence performs in our sight. It 
means a decisive action of belief against all opposing 
elements and mountains of adversities that may seem- 
ingly bar the way to prevent an answer to prayer.The 
one who prays the prayer of faith calls upon God for 
the desired favor and leaves the result with him, know- 
ing that according to his word it shall come to pass. 

Too many get the wrong idea regarding the nature 
of faith, and imagine it is for almost anyone else but 



OF SOUL AND BODY. ig 

themselves; that in order to exercise faith they must 
wonderfully and rigorously exercise the mind, and 
strain and worry, or go through certain performances 
in order to grasp the promise and secure His blessings. 
There are just two platforms upon which to stand, 
and we must take one or the other. The one is 
belief, the other unbelief. The Word of God is 
true, or it is not true. He will do as he has promised, 
or he will not do it. His promises are reliable, or 
they are not reliable. Then the question is, Will we 
consider the Word of God true, or shall we believe it 
to be false? If we consider him to be a true God, 
why hesitate to obey and move out upon his promises, 
whether we can seeourway through ornot, onaccount 
of the adversities and many opposing elements with 
which we may have to contend? When we are in the 
order of the Lord and desire a favor of him, it is 
evidence enough to know he has promised in his 
word; and, if so, We need not seek after signs and 
wonders in order to verify his promises, or give 
evidence that he will not fail to fulfill his promises. 

To one seeking a favor of God the point of faith 
or trust must be reached in which the action of present 
belief takes place; a positive confidence that he hears 
and answers just now, for, "This is the confidence that 
we have in him, that if we ask anything according to 
his will he heareth us; and if we know that he hear 



20 DIVINE HEALING 

us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the 
petitions that we desired of him." — I Jno. 5: 14, 15. 
" And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will 
I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 
If ye shall ask anything in my name I will do it." — 
Jno 14: 13, 14. 

The sinner must believe that now is the accepted 
time, now is the day of salvation. — 1 Cor. 6:2. And, 
" If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive 
us our sins." — 1 Jno. 1: 9. 

The believer must realize these words as true, 
demanding immediate attention: "This is the will of 
God even'your sanctification." — 1 Thess. 4: 3. "Go on 
to perfection." — Heb. 6: I. The Father will give you 
another Comforter. — Jno. 14: 16. " Presentyourbodies 
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which 
is your reasonable service." — Rom. 12: 1. 

The afflicted must remember that " the prayer of 
faith shall save the sick, and the Lord will raise him 
up."— Jas. 5: 13-15. 

It is generally our own choice if we are bound down, 
either by sin or the discouragements of life. God 
promises to break the fetters and set the captive free. 
Although one may be bound with chains of iron and 
steel, yet that cannot deprive perfect freedom and 
joy in the soul. 






OF SOUL AND BODY. 21 

Suppose a man were bound down hand and foot and 
cast into prison, and would make an appeal for pardon, 
and the jailor would come and present the papers 
showing that his request had been granted by the 
authorities, would he not begin to feel grateful toward 
those who had granted the pardon? But the jailor 
reads the pardon, takes off the fetters and chains, 
takes down the prison bars, throws open the door 
and says, <# You are now a free man: go your way in 
peace." But the man still sits there and says : " I know 
the pardon reads that I am to be free, and I believe 
every word of it, but I am yet in prison." 

" The doors are open, come out," says the jailor. 

11 1 know they are open, and I know I would be free 
If I were out, but I am not out." 

" Well, come out," still insists the jailor; " do you 
mot believe what I have said and done is all true? 

M O yes, I believe every word of it, but it seems as 
if I never will get out of here." 

A pardon would be of no benefit to such a man, 
because of his own choice he remains in prison and 
does not act upon the privileges given. That is faith 
without works. Yet how often we see persons seeking 
salvation who are in just such a condition. They 
believe, and yet in a sense they do not believe. They 
seem to be afraid that God will not do what he has 
said he will do. Is that not worse than doubting 



22 DIVINE HEALING 

Thomas? Our Bible teaches us that faith and works 
go together. While it is not necessary to wait for 
a certain amount of feeling in orderto exercise faith, 
yet when our faith is exercised accordingto his word, 
it will leave its effect; the thing believed for will be 
received whether it comes in just the way we are 
expecting it or not. Often people ask God for some- 
thing, and do not "get it because they will not receive 
it in the way in which he offers it to them. For 
instance, a man is seeking the pardon of his sins, and 
has made up his mind he must have an experience 
the moment he complies with the Word, such as will 
cause him to leap and bound and shout the high 
praises of God; and because he has seen these mani- 
festations in others at the time of pardon, thinks he 
must have the same manifestations to witness the work 
done, and thus measure salvation from a standpoint of 
feeling instead of faith, and is very apt to receive the 
blessing in quite a different way from what he was 
expecting it. Persons who "set their stakes," as the 
saying is, as to some certain way the Lord is to bestow 
his blessings upon them, are almost sure to have to 
pull up their "stakes," and become willing to accept 
it in any way the Lord sees fit to give it. 

Faith is the key which unlocks the great treasure 
house of the Lord, and causes hisi>lessings to shower 
down in abundance. To the Christian' it is a shield 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 23 

which wards off the darts of the enemy; it removes 
mountains of opposition and discouragements, and 
brings a halo of glory about the soul, and the evil 
one is defeated on every hand. 

It is a blessed thing to realize that our faith reaches 
unto Jesus Christ; for he is the end of our faith and 
is always ready to honor the same by an immediate 
answer. 



CHAPTER VII. 

CONVERSION. 

Conversion is that change wrought in the soul 
which changes it from a natural to a spiritual state; 
from a sinful state to a state of grace. It is regen- 
eration; a new or spiritual birth. It is an instanta- 
neous work, wrought by the power of God which 
brings a person into a justified relation with God. 
It is as radical a change as is the natural birth of 
an infant. A new world to the soul has been reach- 
ed, a new parentage given, and a heavenly parental 
arm of love is encircled round about with a wall of 
salvation to protect the new-born babe in Christ 
from the fiery darts of the evil one. 

But how to solve this great problem and enable 
the soul to reach the desired haven of tranquillity and 
peace with God has been the great question of all 
enlightened people throughout the Christian era. 



24 DIVINE HEALING 

We are first to believe the Word of God, then act 
on that belief, which, if we are sinners, will at once 
bring about the conversion of the soul. The Lord 
speaks the words of pardon and says, " Thy sins are 
forgiven; go and sin no more." The burden of sin rolls 
away, and the peace of God comes in and illuminates 
the soul. A new era begins, and everything seems 
changed. So effective is it that what was once pleasure 
now does not seem to have any attraction; and the 
things that were formerly hated are now looked upon 
with admiration, and observed with a holy reverence. 
A new birth has taken place, and the new-born babe 
in Christ goes forth to walk in the heavenly light of 
God's word, and begins to feast upon the manna 
which cometh from above. 

This spiritual birth is something that sinners do 
not understand, and they cannot because they are 
unable to discern the spiritual mind. They see the 
change of life in those who have been born again, 
and in their own strength and own way begin to try 
to reason out the ways of salvation. What do they 
get? They get just such an experience as Nicodemus 
had, — an experience of morality, and not of salvation. 
He was quite a prominent, great religious teacher; 
a ruler among the Jews, and yet confessed his igno- 
rance regarding the conversion of the soul. Christ 
very plainly told him that his profession and experi- 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 25 

ence would not take him to heaven, and said: "Ex- 
cept a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom 
of God." — Jno. 3: 3. 

There are too many Nicodemases throughout the 
land at the present time; persons who are religious 
teachers, and yet strangers to this heavenly birth. 

A man may make up his mind to do right, and 
determine to make heaven his home, and at once 
begin to change his ways. He stops swearing, lying, 
defrauding his neighbor, restores that which he has 
stolen, leaves off his bad habits, gives of his goods 
to the poor, attends religious services regular, and 
people notice a great change in the man, and yet he 
is only a moral man; and because he has not repented 
of his sins and been born of the Spirit, Christ says 
such a one " cannot see the kingdom of God." 

There is a vast difference between morality and 
salvation. Morality does not include salvation; it 
changes the habits, but does not change the nature. 
But salvation always includes morality in the strictest 
sense. This blessed experience can be reached and 
claimed as our own the very moment we fully decide 
to forsake all sin, and have repented of all sin and 
confessed the same to God. 

When the soul is converted a person can go about 
singing, "O happy day! when Jesus washed my sins 
away." Indeed this is a happy state, for there is peace 



26 DIVINE HFALING 

with God. "Therefore being justified by faith we have 
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." — 
Rom. 5:1. This gives access, or opens the way of 
entrance into the standing grace o\ sanctification. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

SANCTIFICATION. 

The command to the converted person is to go on 
unto perfection, Heb. 6: 1, "for this is the will of 
God even your sanctification." — 1 Thess. 4: 3. 

"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; 
and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body 
be presen ed blameless unto the coming of our Lord 
Jesus Christ." — 1 Thess. 5: 23. 

All actual transgressions have been pardoned, but 
the inherited nature still remains, which is the ground- 
work of sin in the heart, and in times of temptation 
and provocation leads into sin. Entire sanctification 
cleanses all this out of the soul, and it is then that we 
can claim all the blessings extended to the righteous. 

Some one may ask the question, Who can be sanc- 
tified? We answer, None but believers; for Christ 
and his apostles never urged anyone but believers 
to accept this grace. To the sinners the)- always 
preached repentance. If persons desire to enter this 
grace they must first know positively that all their sins 
have been pardoned, and after they have borne fruit 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 



27 



of the same, they are then ready to be purged, that 
they may bear more fruit; ready to offer their bodies a 
"living sacrifice, "and receive the "abiding Comforter." 
- J no. 14: 16. 

The longing soul, hungering and thirsting after 
righteousness, cries out with the Psalmist: " Purge 
me with hyssop and I shall be clean: wash me, and 
I shall be whiter than snow;" and can then "serve 
him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before 
him all the days of our life." 

" To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the 
tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of 
God," saith the Lord. Rev. 2: 7. 

this precious overcoming grace! This places 
the spiritual condition of the soul on a plane with 
Adam before the fall, to "eat of the tree of life," to 
"eat of the hidden manna." Ver. 17. 

1 I ear the words of the Lord again in Rev. 3: 12. — 
"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the 

temple of my God, and he shall go no more out." 
This is the standing grace spoken of in Rom. 5: 2. It 
is where we arc kept from falling as long as our trust 
is in God; it is where we are hid in the secret of his 
presence, " under the shadow of the Almighty." Oh! 
who would not go on to perfection and obtain this 
pearl of great price, though it requires the loss of 
all the worldly pleasures of earth? 



28 DIVINE HEALING 

Sinners may pray in vain for this grace; hypocrites 
may pray in vain for it; persons who have once been 
converted, but have since lived an unholy life may 
pray in vain for it. Many believers often seek for 
it day after day, and time after time plead with God 
for deliverance from this "body of sin," but their 
prayers seem, from some unknown cause to them, 
to go unanswered. In such cases there maybe various 
reasons for the withholding of such a blessing. Some 
are not willing to be refined in the crucible of God's 
word; to pass through the crucifixion, and let the 
"old man" die; or. in other words, have the evil or 
carnal nature destroyed out of the soul. Reputation 
often stands in the way; but you may plead and plead 
in vain, and unless all things are completely given up 
you will not receive the desired blessing. You nun- 
give up things in your own way as often as you wish, 
yet you will have to come to God's way, and offer a 
perfect offering, and when that is done and you are 
positive all is wholly given up and all is on the altar, 
you then can claim the blessing in spite of all the 
powers of the enemy, and go your way doubting 
nothing; for whatever touches the altar is made holy. 
You are the gift, Christ is the altar, and the altar 
sanctifies the gift. Matt. 23: 19. 

A very small thing will hinder the answering of 
prayer. In olden times when a sacrifice was brought 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 



29 



before the altar it was thoroughly examined, and if 
the least blemish was found it was rejected. 

Put your will in line with the will of God with all 
humbleness of heart, and the blessing will be forth- 
coming; the purging fire of his holiness will be upon 
you and instantly burn out all dross, and the last 
remains of sin will be destroyed; and as this is done 
the soul reaches the spiritual land of Canaan, where 
the Lord fights the battles, and faith moves onward 
with victory on every side; because the promised 
Comforter has taken up his abode in the soul. 

There are many theories regarding sanctification, 
as to when and how the experience is obtained; but 
a theory which does not harmonize with the Word of 
God is a false one. Some get the idea that no one 
can live holy in this life, and even consider it pre- 
sumption to claim sanctification. They imagine it 
can only be obtained at, or just about the time of 
death, when the spirit takes its flight for its eternal 
abode. 

What saith the scriptures about such theories? We 
read in 1 Thess. 4: 3 that it is the will of God, even 
your sanctification. The word sanctification has a two- 
fold meaning. First, a consecration or a setting apart 
for a sacred use. Second, the act of God's grace 
which cleanses, or purifies the affections of men. 



jo DIVING HEALING 

All opposers of holiness, when measured by the 
Word of God, are found to be either out-right pro- 
fessional sinners or hypocrites, and are without a hope 
of heaven unless they turn from their evil ways; for 
our Bible tells us, "Without holiness no man shall 

see the Lord." And Jesus said, " Be ye holy 

for I am holy." How holy must we be? We 

must reach the point of perfected holiness, for he 
says, " Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father 

which is in heaven is perfect." Certainly that 

is meant for us while here in this life. After being 
delivered from sin we are to "serve him without fear, 
in holiness and righteousness before J dm all the days of our 
life" — Luke 1 : 75. Then if we obey God we will from 
this time on live holy lives. 

In justification we receive a degree of holiness 
through the pardon of sins, and being set apart for 
the service of the Lord; but God's command is not 
fulfilled until the cleansing process of entire sanctifi- 
cation takes place, which purifies the soul and sweeps 
away all the dross of the carnal nature. This is a 
work of grace wrought in the soul, separate and 
distinct from that of pardon. The soul enters the 
Elysian fields of bliss, and feasts upon the unfathoma- 
ble riches of His glory. This makes a person an 
overcomer in the household of faith, a valiant soldier 
of the Lord, with victory on every hand. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 



3i 



Even this experience does not free us from tempta- 
tion and the trials of life. No, indeed; we may be 
as our Master, but not above him. He was tempted 
by the evil one, and surely we will not escape the 
tempter; but it is in our power to resist him, for the 
Lord has promised that with every temptation there 
will be a way of escape. Our Savior suffered reproach 
and passed through severe trials of life; and so must 
we patiently run the race that is set before us, for only 
those who endure unto the end shall wear the crown. 

There may be times when the Lord sees fit to try 
our faith to the utmost in order to fit us for some 
future responsibilities, or strengthen us for coming 
trials through which we may have to pass. At one 
time the Savior felt as though he was forsaken, and 
cried out, " My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken 
me?" Yet he did not feel like turning from his state 
of purity, nor allow a shadow of doubt to throw open 
a door for sin to enter; .nor did he in anywise cast 
away his confidence in the Father. O what a lesson 
to be learned here! and may His children early learn 
that when the dark clouds are hovering, the sun is 
always shining behind, ready to break forth and dis- 
pel the gloom. And when our spiritual sky is clouded 
with gloom, faith reaches even through the darkest 
cloud to the Sun of righteousness; and not a stain 
of sin is able to touch the soul as long as the shield of 



32 DIVINE HEALING 

faith is held up to turn the darts of the enemy. A 
sanctified person will be persecuted, reviled, evil 
spoken of; no doubt, pronounced crazy, a fanatic, and 
such like; but the Lord gives grace to endure all this 
with perfect peace in the soul. And this it will do: 
It will fit a person for the race, for the holy warfare, 
by removing all worldly conformity and everything 
that is not in accordance with the Word of God. 
The wearing of gold, jewelry and worldly adornments 
will give place to plain, neat clothing. Tobacco, 
opiurn morphine, whiskey, beer, and even tea and cof- 
fee will not be used any more to defile the holy tem- 
ple of God. "For ye are the temple of the living God." 
— 2 Cor. 6: 16. It is a sure cure for drunkenness, and 
will completely take away and destroy the appetite 
for strong drink; and will do the same for any other 
bad habit. Yea, it sweeps all sectarianism out of the 
heart, and delivers a person out of all religious creeds 
of men, secret societies and abominations of this 
world. Some are ready to take exceptions to some 
of these statements, and say, " You are going a little 
too far; just leave off some of these things." Nay, 
we will go further and say, when persons have had 
the light of the teaching of the Word of God on these 
things, they cannot even live in a justified state with 
God and practice them. Sanctification cleanses the 
soul from the desire of all these things. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 33 

The Lord has commanded in 2 Cor. 6:14, saying, " Be 
ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers." 
And we are to have no fellowship with the works of 
darkness. 

In consecrating for sanctification all is laid upon 
the altar; the sacrifice is made complete, an offering 
of all we know, and all we do not know. We conse- 
crate to walk in all the light God lets shine upon 
our pathway. The Bible is opened as a new book to 
us, and as we begin to understand the deep things of 
God,the light will shine so brightly within and about 
us that we will see many things to which we have 
been clinging or leaning upon which are not in harmony 
with the Word of God, and as we discover them, we 
say, "Amen, Lord, that was considered in the covenant 
as one of the things about which we did not know at 
the time; and there is no desire for it now, so away 
it goes." When you have attained unto this grace 
and are walking up to all the light you have, and 
discover that there are points wherein you must make 
improvements, it does not require anew consecration, 
but only moving up to the light as it flashes upon 
your pathway, for nothing has been taken off the 
altar, and you are now where you can grow in grace 
through a knowledge of the truth as it is taught in 
the Word of God. 

But suppose you were now to get light on some 



34 DIVINE HEALING 

point, and see by the Word of God that it was wrong- 
to continue as before regarding the same, and you 
refuse to measure up to the teaching on that point 
when it is made clear to you, then you break your 
covenant and go into darkness; for Christ says, "Walk 
while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon 
you." 

To have full salvation is to have the same salvation 
the apostles had; and it is our privilege to have that 
salvation, and to have the same faith, and to perform 
the same manner of works that the apostles did; but 
we must get on the apostolic line. It is not found 
on the line of secret orders, nor sectism, but is found 
in Jesus Christ only. " He sets the members in the 
body as it pleaseth him." "And ye are complete in 
him." O what a glorious thing it is to be just where 
God would have us be! where we are not afraid to 
step out upon the promises of his holy word. 

CHAPTER IX. 

THE TWO WORKS OF GRACE. 

We frequently meet with persons who ridicule 
the idea of sanctification and justification being two 
separate and distinct works of grace wrought in the 
soul. They claim that when they came to the Lord 
they offered themselves a living sacrifice, and were 
converted and wholly sanctified both at the same 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 35 

time; and say the apostles were not converted until 
the day of Pentecost. Others claim that no one is 
sanctified in this life, and think when we get so good 
that we do not sin any more, then the Lord has no 
more use for us here on earth. 

We may respect a person for their belief if they are 
honest in it, but we dare not drink of their unbelief, 
or uphold them in it, when we know they are wrong, 
in order to win them over to the side of truth. But 
they should be shown the truth in the light of the 
Gospel, and when made plain to them, they do not 
dare reject the truth, for the Word teaches that we 
must "walk in the light or go into darkness." Right 
here is where so many lose the grace of God out of 
their souls; they see the light, and will not advance, 
and walk in it, and so they are left in darkness. 
True, it is hard for many who have not had their 
spiritual eyes opened, or have been steeped with 
false teaching, to understand the teachings of the 
Word of God. But in about all such cases, you will 
find a selfish, stubborn will of their own, which re- 
fuses to be brought into line and subjection to His 
will; and as their will is to a greater or less extent 
set in opposition to the will of God, they find great 
difficulty in understanding the deep things of his 
word, even though they may hear it preached or 
explained in the plainest possible manner. Then 



j6 DIVINE HEALING 

the way to discover and possess the rich jewels and 
treasures of the Word of God, is to get your will in 
line with his; let your heart be fixed upon him; be 
willing to walk according to the teachings of his 
blessed word. 

We do not hesitate in making the assertion in the 
light of God's word, that justification and sanctifica- 
tion arc two separate and distinct works of grace 
wrought in the soul. The first is the forgiveness of 
all actual transgressions, and the infusion of spirit- 
ual life by the grace of regeneration. The second, 
the cleansing from all unrighteousness, having the 
evil, inherited nature rooted out. This is taught all 
through the Bible. Christ and his apostles preached 
repentance before the day of Pentecost, and while 
Christ was with them, his disciples baptized many 
persons. Surely they did not baptize sinners; for 
the command was for them to repent and then be 
baptized. Neither were the apostles sinners, for he 
says, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst 
of wolves." — Matt.io: 16. The scriptures here rep- 
resent the people who are sinners, as the wolves, and 
the saved ones as the "sheep." It would be absurd to 
think that Christ would send a number of sinners to 
preach the Gospel, heal the sick, cast out devils, etc. 
No, indeed, only saved persons are his ministers. 
Thousands of people at the present time arc trying to 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 37 

preach the Gospel, whom God has never called nor 
commissioned ; consequently they become false teach- 
ers, and darken the understanding of their hearers, 
thus causing divisions, strife, etc., "having a form 
o( gbdliness, but denying the power thereof; from 
such turn away." The minister whom the Lord com- 
missions and sends forth, is endued with power from 
on high, and his teaching is in the demonstration of 
the Spirit and in accordance with the Word of God. 

You remember in Luke 10: 17-20, that when the 
seventy returned, they rejoiced that devils were 
subject unto them, and Christ told them to rejoice 
because their names were written inheaven. Surely 
the names of sinners are not written in heaven; if so^ 
it would be useless to preach repentance. We read 
of some who came humbly to Christ and he forgave 
them, and said, "Go and sin no more." This was 
before the day of Pentecost. The promise of the 
I Father was the Holy Ghost, which was not given 
before the day o( Pentecost as an abiding Comforter. 

For a sinner to go out to preach the Gospel would 
not be in harmony with the Word, because the first 
teaching of the Gospel, was repentance for the for- 
giveness of sins. And if His apostles had not been 
converted when they went out to preach, the people 
would have told them that they had better get saved 
themselves first. To be a follower of Christ, one 



J> 



i8 DIVINE HEALING 



must be a believer in his word; and to be a believer, 
one must obey his commands; and to do this will 
bring- about a conversion of the soul the first thing. 
Consequently all who believe on him according to 
his word, are born of God. A mere religious in- 
clination of the mind, or head religion will not suffice, 
but it must emanate from the depths of the soul. 
"For with the heart man belieVeth unto righteousness, 
and with the mouth confession is made unto salva- 
tion." To settle down upon good resolutions and a re- 
ligious inclination without a change of heart, will save 
no one. The Word teaches that only believers can 
receive the Holy Ghost. "And [will pray the Father 
and he shall give you another Comforter, that he 
may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth, 
whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him 
not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he 
dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." — Jno, 14: 
16, 17. Here he says the " world" (sinners) cannot re- 
ceive this Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost; but 
his disciples "know him," and he shall be in them. 
In Jno. 17 we find Jesus praying for the sanctification 
of his disciples, and those who believe in him. This 
prayer was answered. Acts 2: 1-4. And the promise 
which had been spoken of was given. 

Paul in illustrating the condition of a person with 
this inherited nature, says, " When I would do good 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 39 

evil is present with me." But as we read further 
on in his experience we find him " crucified with 
Christ, "abounding in His love continually, free from 
all the sinful lusts of the world. In Acts 19:1, 2, when 
Paul came to Ephesus he found certain disciples, and 
said unto them, " Have ye received the Holy Ghost 
since ye believed?" And they said they had not so 
much as heard whether there be 3ny Holy Ghost. 
So it is to-day: many do not even know that there 
is a Holy Ghost, because they have been under teach- 
ers who taught them not the words of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. Others believe that they received him when 
converted. Well, that is contrary to the Word to 
have the Holy Ghost as an abiding Comforter at the 
instant of conversion. 

Now let us see how it is to be obtained. When a 
sinner comes to Christ he offers himself M dead in 
trespasses and sins," and is made alive in Christ 
through the forgiveness of sins, or actual transgress- 
ions, and that act or work of grace gives access into 
a deeper experience — into standing grace. Rom. 5: 
1, 2. Read Rom. 12: 1, 2, and see how this second 
grace is attained unto. Remember he is speaking 
here to brethren; and as they had already offered them- 
selves "dead in trespasses and sins," and been made 
alive in Christ, now he commands them to offer their 
bodies a living sacrifice, etc., which no sinners can do 



40 DIVINE HEALING 

because they have not been made alive in Christ. 
A sinner cannot offer himself a holy sacrifice, but 
must meet the requirements of the Word through 
repentance before he is in a condition to even make 
the consecration for perfect holiness of heart. Does 
a person not grow into sanctification? No; there 
is a growth in grace, but not into grace. Through 
sanctification we receive a moral change of our nature; 
therefore sanctification is not effected by growth, as 
growth never changes the nature of anything. Af- 
ter we get into grace then we can grow in grace. We 
must get into a room before we can roam around in 
it. Growth changes the dimensions or size of any- 
thing; but a work of grace changes the nature. 

When our fore-parents were in the garden or Eden 
hey were in a state of perfect holiness, were on a 
plane with God; but when they committed sin they 
fell from their holy state, and through their sin and 
fall sin passed upon all men. And as the Psalm- 
ist says, " Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in 
sin did my mother conceive me." So we are brought 
forth into this world with an inherited sinful nature, 
although in a state of innocency until we reach the 
years of accountability, and are old enough to know 
right from wrong; then this evil nature causes us to 
commit sin. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 



4* 



,**.**• §m 




The Sinful Heart. 



It is at this time that the sinful na- 
ture, which the enemy of souls plant- 
ed in the heart at the time of the 
fall of man, causing him to be driven 
from the garden of Eden, now begins 
to develop as a tree and branch out, 
bearing fruits of wickedness, leading 
a person in forbidden paths and away 
from the innocency of early child- 
hood. On account of this nature in 
the heart it is as natural a consequence for a child to 
drift into sin as it is for [water to run down a hill. 
Although surrounding circumstances may do much 
to check the sinful career, yet a highly cultured 
life and strictest morality will never erase it. Noth- 
ing but the power of God will sweep it away and 
deliver one from its unholy tendency in the soul. 

Christ came to redeem us from sin, 
and make us pure and holy. Yes 
pure even as he is pure, for" as he is, 
so are we in this world." When our 
The Justified Heart, sins are forgiven it brings us into 
a justified state with God back to the innocency of 
childhood. This is the babe state of the Christian 
life. The new birth brings innocency and happiness, 
and opens the way to enter the realms of a deeper 
experience. As the soul gets a glimpse of the glories 




42 DIVINE HEALING 

of entire sanctification there is a longing, a yearning 
for something more, a hungering and thirsting after 
righteousness. There is a lack unsupplied, a vacan- 
cy unfilled, and the soul cries out, " Cleanse me, O 
God, from this ' body of sin.' " 

Through his cleansing blood we reach a point of 
moral perfection, and we are made to " sit together 
in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." — Eph. 2: 6. We 
cannot make the bound from a sinful state into that 
of entire sanctification all at one time. Why? Be- 
cause it is not the Bible way, and what we do we 
must do as the Bible teaches. 

There are many people who claim that when the 
Lord forgave their sins he also wholly sanctified 
them, and say that when he does a thing he does the 
whole thing at one time, and never makes two jobs 
of it. Such persons are certainly ignorant of the 
Word, and many have not even received the first 
touch of his power. That is not the way God created 
the world. We also read in Mark 8: 22-26 about a 
blind man who was brought to Christ, and he spit on 
his eyes and laid his hands on him, and asked him if 
he could see. And the man said he could see men 
as trees walking. And Jesus after that put his hands 
again upon his eyes and made him look; and he was 
restored and saw every man clearly. So it is when 
we get our spiritual eyes opened through justification; 




I 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 43 

we then get a glimpse of perfected holiness, and 
when the cleansing takes place and our hearts purified 
completely, it is then that we are enabled to see 
clearly in the light of his word, and to rejoice with joy 
unspeakable and full of glory. 

It is then that the last remains of sin 
are swept away, and the "old man" or 
" body of sin" is crucified and the 
Holy Spirit reigns supreme within 

The Pure Heart, the SOlll. 

In the Old Testament we find many types of the 
salvation of Jesus Christ, showing forth and typifying 
two works of grace, of which we will now notice 
one or two: First; it is plainly shown in the crossing 
of the Red Sea, and the river Jordan by the children 
of Israel. Their deliverance from Egyptian bondage, 
and escape through the Red Sea typifies our deliv- 
erance from sin by pardon through the blood of Jesus 
Christ. Their passing from the wilderness where 
they were daily fed on manna from heaven, across the 
Jordan into the land of Canaan, where they partook 
of the fruit of the land, typifies the passing from a 
justified into a sanctified state, where we can eat of 
the " hidden manna " 

You will also observe that the Jewish tabernacle was 
a type of the true church of God; and by an outline 
of the same you will see that the offerings upon the 



COURT. 

If wa confasa our oina. He *s faithful and juM 
to forgive us our sins. 




OF SOUL AND BODY. 45 

brazen altar admits into the first vail, or sanctuary, 
holy place; and the offering upon the golden altar, 
which admits into the second vail, or holiest of holies, 
corresponds with the offerings necessary to pass from 
sin unto entire sanctification. First, the sinner offers 
himself dead in tresspasses and in sins, and through 
the blood of Christ enters the kingdom, and is a child 
of the King, or in other words, is converted, having 
all actual transgressions or sins pardoned. " There- 
fore being justified by faith we have peace with God 
through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we 
have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, 
and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." — Rom. 
5: 1, 2. 

Yet there remains in the heart that evil inherited 
nature, which the apostle sometimes called the " old 
man," the " root of bitterness," etc. And now as we 
have reached the point in our experience where we 
have access into a deeper experience, it is our privi- 
lege to have this " body of sin," or evil nature, with 
all its roots plucked up and destroyed. " For every 
plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted 
shall be rooted up." — Matt. 15: 13. And this is one 
of the plants which our heavenly Father hath not 
planted, consequently must be rooted up. 

Now comes the second offering, a" living sacrifice." 
Paul says, Rom. 12: 1, 2, — " I beseech you therefore 



46 DIVINE HEALING 

brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present 
your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto 
God, which is your reasonable service. And be not 
conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by 
the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is 
that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'' 
" For this is the will of God, even your sanctification." 
— i Thess. 4: 3. 

What does this consecration include? When you 
first came to the Lord imploring him to forgive your 
sins, your case was a desperate one: all was darkness 
around you, and you were lost in sin. But you had 
to consecrate to God, that is, make a covenant with 
him — that you would forsake your sins; and then 
when you confessed all to him, you had to believe 
that he forgave you, because he promised in his word 
that " if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to 
forgive us our sins." Having now reached this ex- 
perience we have peace with God, and can go on our 
way rejoicing that our sins are forgiven; but we have 
not yet reached that point where the inbred sin, or 
evil nature has been swept away. But having been 
made alive in Christ we can now make the offering 
— a " living sacrifice," and this does not require a 
confession of sins committed, but of indwelling sin, 
and results in a cleansing which sweeps away the in- 
herited evil nature, leaving none of the elements of 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 



47 



anger, strife, malice, filthiness of the flesh, etc. All 
the evil elements are removed, and what a change! 
the Bible seems to be almost like a new book. The 
Holy Ghost takes up his abode in the soul and re- 
mains as our comforter, our guide, imparting wisdom, 
knowledge, etc. unto us, and the light of heaven 
shines about us in brilliant rays of glory, and his 
glorious presence is felt continually. O what sweet- 
ness! What completeness! We can truly say, " It is 
more precious than rubies;" yea, "sweeter than the 
honey and the honeycomb." Though it may be our 
lot to pass through the fiery furnace of affliction, or 
the deepest trials of life, forsaken by friends, an 
outcast, persecuted; and with all this the peace of 
the wholly sanctified is not destroyed, or even dis- 
turbed. Even though falsely accused and cast into 
prison, or led to the stake to be tortured and burned 
as a martyr, His grace will be sufficient even unto 
the end. To his faithful children it is glory all the 
way along. They who goon unto perfection and are 
willing to measure up to the Word of God in all 
things shall be possessors of the martyr's grace, and 
be able to stand all the fiery trials of life with a shout 
of victory in the soul. 

When life's frail vessel is tempest tossed upon the 
rolling billows of oppression, and trouble and temp- 
tation are on every side, and the fiery darts of the 



48 DIVINE HEALING 

enemy come thick and fast, these words are very- 
precious to the one who leans upon the strong arm 
of the Lord: " When thou passest through the waters 
I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall 
not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the 
fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame 
kindle upon thee, for I am the Lord thy God, the 
Holy One of Israel, thy Savior. * * * Fear not;for I am 
with thee."-Isa. 43: 2-5. " I will never leave thee nor 
forsake thee." Although to some who would look 
for a moment at their own strength, it may seem like 
such a severe trial would be more than their faith 
would be able to stand; but in turning to the precious 
promises of the Lord there is to be found the consol- 
ing words: "My grace is sufficient;" " Lo, I am with 
you alway, even unto the end of the world;" and 
" There hath no temptation taken you but such as is 
common to man: but God is faithful, who will not 
suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, 
but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, 
that ye may be able to bear it." 



DIVINE HEALING OF THE BODY. 



PART II. 
CHAPTER I. 

THE DOCTRINE OF HEALING. 



MOXG the religious class of people 
of to day there are multitudes of 
skeptics, regarding faith healing, 
or healing of. the body by the means 
set forth in the Word of God. Vol- 
ume after volume has been written 
on the subject; an abundance of tes- 
timonies have been published and 
sent broadcast over the land; yea, 
people have been eye-witnesses to the healing of the 
sick, yet in the face of all this, many will not be- 
lieve. 

We do not base the doctrine of divine healing up- 
on the testimonies of those who have been healed 
in these last days; nor upon what has been written 
in many of the volumes published, for there is a 
more solid foundation upon which to build. The 

49 




SO DIVINE HEALING 

Word of God is the true basis upon which its princi- 
ples are founded, and it is presented in the strong- 
est terms from Genesis to Revelation. Then what 
if some do not believe? " Shall their unbelief make 
the faith of God without effect? God forbid: Yea, 
let God be true, and every man a liar." — Rom. 3: 3. 
The ways of the Lord are beyond the wisdom of 
men, and the heights and depths of his glory and 
mercies cannot be fathomed by human reasoning. 
Yet they cannot be questioned when viewed from a 
Standpoint of reason and logic, when we take into 
consideration the infinite power and majesty of God, 
and that he is "all and in all," "The same yester- 
day, to day and forever.' 

Goo! who worked miracles in times past, still re- 
tains the same power, and will work through his 
true children and none can hinder. 

Those who try to study out a way to heaven, or 
the principles oi' divine healing, through some scien- 
tific method will make a failure, unless they broad- 
en their science enough to accept the miraculous 
performances of Mis power, and fall in line with the 
teachings of His word. They may harmonize the 
parting of the waters of the Red Sea by the blowing 
of an east wind, but when the river Jordan is reach- 
ed, with its overflowing banks, and as the priests 
who bear the ark step into the water, which imme- 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 



5* 



diately parts and banks up on one side of them, and 
on the other side the river bed is left dry, a per- 
formance is witnessed which scientists fail to show 
any natural principles by which it was done; but are 
forced to admit that He who created the world, was 
able to separate the waters in any way he saw fit to 
do, whether it harmonized with science or natural 
laws or not. 

Abraham understood upon what grounds this doc- 
trine was founded, when he prayed for Abimelech 
whom the Lord healed. So did Moses when he 
prayed for the healing" of Miriam, who had been 
stricken with leprosy, but through his prayer was 
restored. The other patriarchs of old, the holy 
prophets, and devout men of God, witnessed the 
healing of the sick by the power of God, and were 
instruments in his hands to perform wonderful things 
before the people. 

The promise of the Lord to Moses and the chil- 
dren of Israel, if they would obey the voice of the 
Lord, was: " I will take sickness away from the 
midst of thee." — Ex. 23: 25. "I will put none of 
these diseases upon thee, which I have brought up- 
on the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth 
thee." — Ex. 15:26. "Observe and hear all these 
words which I command thee, that it may go well 
with thee, and with thy childen after thee forever, 



52 DIVINE HEALING 

when thou docst that which is good and right in the 
sight of the Lord thy God."— Deut. 12: 28. The 
promise, " Unto their children forever," reaches 
down to the present day. When God's children 
obeyed his voice these promises were fulfilled; when 
they disobeyed him the promises were not fulfilled. 

Centuries after the above promises were given we 
hear the psalmist David breaking forth in these 
words: " Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not 
all his beneefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; 
who healeth all thy diseases." — Psa. 103:2, 3. 

When llezekiah was "sick unto death," he prayed 
unto the Lord, a fervent prayer, and the same was 
answered by the healing of his body, and fifteen 
years were added unto his life. 2 Kings 20: 1-6. 
But in 2 Chron. 16: 12 we read of Asa, one of the 
kings of Israel, who sought not the Lord during his 
sickness, but put his case into the hands of earthly 
physicians, and the consequence was he died. Jn 
those days it was safe for the children of God to 
trust in Him for the healing of their bodies; and 
coming down to the time of Christ we find Him 
healing all manner of disease, " That it might be 
fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet 
saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our 
sicknesses." — Matt. 8: 17. Likewise His apostles 
went forth healing the sick, and doing wonderful 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 45 

things in the name of Jesus, and their work was 
wrought by the power of God. So we find the doc- 
trine of divine healing is no new doctrine, as it is a 
part of the Word of God, and it has been the privi- 
lege of his faithful children in all ages of the past to 
claim his promises, and be healed of their diseases. 



CHAPTER II. 

IS THE DAY OF HEALING PAST? 

We may as well ask, Has the Word of God be- 
come of none effect? or has God lost his power, in- 
somuch that he cannot fulfill his promises? Pro- 
fessing Christians of to day are to be found in great 
numbers, who say the day of healing is past; it was 
for the apostles but not for us. But they fail to 
give us a "thus saith the Lord," for such a belief. Not 
one passage of scripture can be given to show that 
these promises were ever repealed, and that those 
who obey God have no right to claim them and be 
healed now. If we limit the healing power to the 
time of the apostles, and say it stopped there, then 
we must say the same regarding the salvation of the 
soul, for his word gives no more evidence of one 
having been done away, than it does the other. 

Christ in giving his commission to the apostles 
said to them, " Go ye into all the world and preach 
the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and 



54 DIVINE HEALING 

is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not 
shall be damned; and these signs shall follow them 
that believe : In my name shall they cast out devils; 
they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take 
up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it 
shall not hurt them; they sliall lay hands on the sick, 
dtid they shall recover" — Mark 16: 15-18. 

Who shall lay hands on the sick? 

" Them that believe" shall lay hands on the sick, and 
they shall recover. Thank the Lord! We are of 
those who believe, consequently that promise is for 
us, and is for God's obedient children of to day. In 
James 5: 13-15, we not only have a promise but 
directions which is our duty to obey. "Is any 
among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? 
let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let 
him call for the elders of the church; and let them 
pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name 
of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the 
sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." 

Because these things have been practiced but very 
little for the last few centuries does not change the 
Word of God in the least. Even if we knew of no 
cases of healing in these days, the Word would stand 
just the same, ready to be complied with, and fol- 
lowed by " these signs." The great trouble is with 
the people, and not with God; unbelief has found 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 



55 



its way into their hearts, and false teachers have 
gone forth declaring the day of miracles past, and 
that God does not heal people of their diseases now, 
by the means set forth in his word, as he did in an- 
cient times. But such persons fail to give one scrip- 
ture to prove that such is the case. 

As long as God has any obedient children upon 
earth it will be their privilege to call upon him, and 
according ^to the promises given in his word, be 
healed of their diseases; and not one passage of 
scripture can be found in the Bible to the contrary, 
or showing that these promises have been recalled. 
It would then be according to reason and logic to 
conclude that they are still in vogue, even if no one 
had the faith to claim them: but notwithstanding 
the unbelief of the masses of people, the true chil- 
dren of God have begun to realize the truth of his 
word, in spite of false teachers, and discern the body 
of Christ (the church), worshiping God in the beauty 
of holiness; exercising the gifts which Paul said 
*' Covet earnestly." t 

Let us see if there is any more evidence that we 
have the right to perform miracles in these days, in 
the name of Jesus, and to follow the teachings of 
his word. Hear the words of Jesus: " Verily, verily, 
I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works 
that I do, shall he do also; and greater works than 



56 DIVINE HEALING 

these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will 
I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If 
ye shall ask anything in my name I will do it." 
— Jno. 14: 12-14. Now these promises are to "He 
that believeth." 

A man once told me that he did not believe in 
divine healing in these days; it was for the apostles 
and not for us. Said I, You believe the Bible, do you 
not ? Oh, yes, every word of it, he remarked. Then 
what about such scriptures as these: " If ye abide in 
me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye 
will, and it shall be done unto you." — Jno. 15:7. "If 
two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything 
that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my 
Father which is in heaven." — Matt. 18: 19. Now sup- 
pose we are abiding in Christ, and should ask him to 
heal some one who is sick; would he not, according 
to his word, be under obligations to answer the 
prayer by doing the work, if we have faith in him? 
If that does not refer to our times, and these prom- 
ises are not for us, then the Bible is a dead letter to 
us, and we may just as well throw the whole thing 
away. 

He was then refered to the case of his daughter, 
with whom he had been visiting, who had been ly- 
ing upon her bed for a week, very sick, and in an 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 



57 



almost helpless condition; and a few days previous 
to our conversation, through prayer and by the lay- 
ing on of hands, she was instantly healed, insomuch 
that she arose from her bed and immediately walked, 
praising God, and was healed of all disease from 
that moment, and received much strength to her 
body; yet it was several days before her strength 
was completely renewed; and because of this, her 
father doubted her healing. In order to substantiate 
his doubts he referred to another person for whom 
prayer had been offered, who was very near death's 
door, and because the afflicted one was not instantly 
restored to his normal strength, and new flesh put 
upon his bones, this man remarked that Christ never 
did his work by halves in that way, and never made 
but one job of anything. To this statement he was 
referred to the healing of the blind man. (Mark 
8: 22-26.) Christ took the blind man by the hand 
and led him out of the town; and when he had spit 
on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked 
him if he saw aught. And he looked up and said, I 
see men as trees, walking. 

After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, 
and made him look up: and he was restored, and 
saw every man clearly. Also when the nobleman 
came to Christ to have his child healed (Jno. 4: 46- 
54), Christ seeing his faith, said unto him, "Go thy 



5 8 DIVINE HEALING 

way; thy son livctb." And from that very hour the 
child began to amend. That does not intimate that 
the child was raised up at that hour, or that an abun- 
dance of strength was given, and new flesh put upon 
its bones, but simply states that it began to amend 
at that hour, that is, the disease was rebuked, and 
from that time it began to get better. 

The Pharisees of old would not believe, even when 
Christ himself stood before them and performed 
miracles in their sight; just so at the present time 
people refuse to believe the truth when presented in 
all its purity; refuse to acknowledge the miraculous 
works of the Lord when they are eye-witnesses to 
the performance. Such denials and unbelief do 
not give the least evidence that the day of healing is 
past. O what a faithless people! who try to limit 
the power of God, and overthrow the faith of others. 
We are exhorted to " earnestly contend for the faith 
which was once delivered unto the saints. 

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the 
Lord delivereth him out of them all." — Psa. 34: 19 
It is true that these bodies must sooner or later re 
turn to mother dust, for "it is appointed unto men 
once to die, but after this the judgment." — Heb. 
9: 27. Yet, even this death may be stayed, through 
prayer and faith, for a number of years. (See 2 
Kir»9\s 20: 6.) (1 Kings 3:14.) Many cry unto the 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 5 g 

Lord in their afflictions, but on account of vanity 
and pride are not heard, while others are humble, 
yet are afraid to exercise faith because they cannot 
see the results first. They who walk only by sight 
do not walk by faith, because faith reaches beyond 
human vision and firmly grasps things unseen. 



CHAPTER III. 

THE USE OF DIVINE HEALING. 

Everything in the divine economy is for a wise 
purpose, and is consonant with the highest reason. 

Before entering upon the objects of divine healing 
it might be well to enquire briefly into the uses of 
affliction. And this must be approached by first 
considering the author of afflictions. Peter's testi- 
mony of Christ is as follows: " Who went about doing 
good, and healing all that were oppressed of the 
devil; for God was with him." — Acts 10: 38. Here 
afflictions are ascribed to the devil, to his oppressive 
power over human flesh. Doubtless, they are usually 
the result of violated natural laws through evil lusts 
and carelessness, infused by the devil. His object 
in these afflictions, of course, is to break down and 
destroy these temples of God. But God also has a 
permissive will and purpose in men's afflictions. By 
these afflictions upon his children he has taught them 
many profitable lessons, and brought them nearer to 



**E 



60 DIVINE HEALING 

himself, and they have also thereby learned to hold 
more sacred and obey more carefully the laws that God 
has enacted in the realms of nature. Doubtless souls 
have been saved, and others arrested from apostasy 
by the strong hand of God in affliction. There have 
been instances where God has evidently sent physical 
judgments upon men. But these are exceptional. 
Usually disciplinary suffering is the effect of violated 
organic laws. But whatever gracious fruit sickness 
may bring forth, it is not to the glory of God that 
his children should continue long under its prostra- 
ting power. I If a more perfect conformity to natural 
laws is needed, or if spiritual lessons or advancement 
in divine grace is the divine object in permitting those 
attacks, let the soul draw nigh to God, find out His 
good purpose, and reach the same. And when this 
is accomplished the divine use of the afflictions ter- 
minate, and the afflictions should also. But should 
no special blessing be contemplated, and the suffering 
be only the oppressive work of Satan, why should it 
be protracted? " Is there no balm in Gilead?" Is 
notour God able to deliver his children out of all 
trouble and afflictions? "Wherefore then should 
the heathen say, Where is their God?" Let it be 
known that God is indeed with his people, and is a 
present help in every need. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 61 

What good then can the Lord accomplish in the 
exercise of his healing power? We will only mention 
a few things. 

I st. Health is the normal state of man, an important 
condition of his usefulness. Deprived of this he is 
unable to answer the end of his active existence. 
He is not qualified to meet the duties he owes to 
himself as a man; to his conntry as a citizen; to 
society as a neighbor; to his family as a husband and 
father; nor to his God as a Christian. Not that he 
cannot be a Christian in prostration, but that he can- 
not fill the sphere of active Christian labor. Instead 
of filling life's duties in these several relations, he is a 
care and burden to others. Hence it is to the glory 
of God to heal His children, that Satan be defeated, 
and they be able to bring forth fruit unto God. 

2d. By the exercise of his healing power, in an- 
swer to prayer, the Lord manifests unto his creatures 
his precious attributes of sympathy, compassion and 
love. Behold his heart of love toward suffering 
humanity! "And Jesus went forth and saw a great 
multitude, and was moved with compassio?i toward them v 
and he healed their sick." — Matt. 14: 14. Blessed bj 
his dear name! Wherever his eyes beheld the 
oppressed of Satan, beneath the heel of sorrow and 
affliction, his hand of love was stretched forth to 
heal, and his kind heart overflowed with words that 



62 DIVINE HEALING 

soothed the troubled soul. Had he passed through 
this vale of sin-inflicted wretchedness with no eye to 
pity the suffering, no tears to shed with the bereaved, 
and no outstretched arm to raise up the sick, could 
men have learned that his heart is kindness, and his 
Father's name love? Ah, the healing mercies of the 
Son of God are needful to reveal the character of 
that compassionate God, who only can bind up our 
wounds, heal our sorrows, and sweep away all our 
diseases. 

And who will say that his crucifixion, resurrection 
and glorification have stripped him of his power to 
heal the sick? Nor do the glories of his Father's 
throne, and the lofty praises of the angels in heaven 
turn away his pitying eye from th that oppress 

his frail brethren yet in the flesh, nor prevent their 
humble prayers from reaching his cars. Thank God! 
" lie knoweth our frame and still remembers that 
we are dust." He yet walks with his church, show- 
ing forth even ' greater works' than he did while incar- 
nate. He to all them that call upon him, and his 
tender mercies are over all. While on earth he turned 
no sufferer away unhealed., and his heart is no less 
" touched with the feelings of our infirmities" to day. 
All must admit that he has the same power to heal. 
Then why not do it? The person who could stand 
by the side of an awful sufferer, who is imploring 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 63 

help, and having all power and authority to remove 
the same by a simple touc h ; 

would be thought of such a person? t all 

pronounce his a heart of stone? And do not all 
confess that Christ is able to heal his saints, and yet 
will not answer their prayers in doing so, virtually 
ascribe to him this same cruel, unfeeling heart? Do 
they not, in direct' opposition to the Word, picture 
him as an unsympathizing high priest, * 
cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, 
and not even with the most intense pain a 
O my Lord and Savior, how thy nan; >red, 

and thy holy character < d by th doc- 

trines of men! How the cursed unbelief th :ome 

down from the dark ages of confusion, and spread 
forth from the pulpits of worldly wisdom, and godly 
ignorance, robs our blessed R< 
and tender compassion! 

It is not enough to say that he exhibited his love 
to suffering humanity while in the flesh, and that is 
sufficient. Is it sufficient to prove that a ood 

and holy now because he gave evidence of that 
in past years? If Christ cannot or would not heal 
the sick to day, would it not give place lor doubts 
that he ever did, and that those mira 1 record 

were forged? Surely this, or the ridicul that 

he has changed. Though men may intellectually 



64 DIVINE HEALING 

credit the works of Christ wrought over eighteen 
hundred years ago, to really impress their minds 
with his true character of love, they need to see 
the same manifestations in the present ever living 
Jesus. If he be indeed the divine Savior, "Jesus 
Christ the same yesterday, to day and forever," he 
must continue to confirm his love to his saints; and 
so he does. And he that denies it must shut his eyes 
and stop his ears from seeing and hearing the gra- 
cious works of God, and seek to rob him of his power, 
or of his very essence — love.* 

3d. We will notice one more point in the use of 
divine healing. In the name of the Lord we affirm 
that the supernatural healing of the bodies of men, 
is one of the Lord's permanent factors in the salvation 
of souls. 

During the personal ministry of Christ, nearly all 
who believed in him were constrained to do so by the 
miracles they saw. Yea, " Many believed on his 
name when they saw the miracles which he did." — 
Jno. 2: 23. Those miracles were usually those of 
healing. 

The same was true of the apostles' labors. About 
five thousand souls were converted to God through 
the preaching of a half sermon, which was backed up 
by the healing of a poor beggar at the beautiful gate 
of the temple. See Acts 3 and 4: 1-4. But since 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 65 

divine healing has been repudiated in the dark ages 
of the past, it has taken, on an average, about five 
thousand " fine sermons" to half convert one soul. 

After spending the night in prison, and being tried 
by the high priests the next day, the apostles Peter 
and John were permitted to return to their own com- 
pany and report the good time they had enjoyed, 
after which they all bowed down and prayed as follows: 
41 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant 
unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may 
speak thy word, by stretching forth thy hand to heal; 
and that signs and wonders may be done by the name 
of thy holy child Jesus." — Acts 4: 29, 30. These 
inspired apostles knew how to pray for boldness and 
authority to preach the Word; namely, they wanted 
the hand of God manifest with them, confirming the 
Word with miracles, especially the healing of the sick. 
Do we not need the same boldness and authority to 
day? A ministry that is void of the divine seal of 
healing power is a poor, lame excuse for the mes- 
sengers of the Almighty God. 

Observe the use the Lord made of a case of heal- 
ing at Lydda. Peter there " found a certain man 
named ./Eneas, which had kept his bed eight years, 
and was sick of the palsy. And Peter said unto him, 
yEneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole." You see 
Peter did not heal the man, but Jesus did. " And 



^^^™ 



66 DIVINE HEALING 

he arose immediately. And all that dwelt in Lydda 
and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord." — Acts 
9: 33-35. A very happy # effect indeed. And we 
have seen men and women melt down before God 
and get saved in these last days, on seeing the love 
and power of God displayed in instantaneous healing. 

" The day of miracles is past" is a digusting apology 
for an unsanctified and powerless ministry. It is 
much more congenial to the flesh to adopt this false- 
hood than to mortify the deeds of the body, die to 
all pride, selfishness and worldliness, and thus become 
pure in heart, and filled with power, an instrument 
through which God can bless suffering humanity. 

The apostle Paul did not entertain the popular 
view of miracles so often heard from the faithless 
pulpits of our age; namely, that "they were only 
intended to confirm the divinity of Christ and his 
word, hence passed away with the apostles. " For," 
says he, "I will not dare to speak of any of those 
things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make 
the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, through mighty 
signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God." 
— Rom. 15: 18, 19. 

To make the Gentiles obedient to God, he regard- 
ed as the divine object of miracles. So long therefore 
as sinners are to be subjected to God on earth, the 
original object of healing yet remains, and of course 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 6j 

the gracious gift continues in the church, even until 
the end of time. To this end the Lord commissioned 
supernatural healing in connection with the preaching 
of his word to the end of the world. Mark 16: 15- 
18. And for the same reason he set the gift of heal- 
ing in the body, his church, as a permanent agent 
in the plan of salvation. 1 Cor. 12: 9. But observe 
he only put those gifts in his own church. Hence 
when men went from the divine fold and the faith 
once delivered to the saints, to human organisms, 
these signs did not follow. And to excuse their 
impotency the falsehood was coined that God had 
recalled that gift. But since the return of the holy 
remnant to the real Zion of God, the church of the 
first-born which are written in heaven, all these prim- 
itive gifts are found yet just where God placed 
them, and they are again being used to the glory of 
his name. 



CHAPTER IV. 

OLD TESTAMENT WITNESSES. 



As we have already shown that it was the privilege 
of God's children in all ages to enjoy the blessings of 
divine healing of the body, we will now notice a few 
instances of the same, and wonderful faith and trust 
in God as given in his word. Beginning with the 
patriarchs of old, we read in Gen. 20: 17 that Abraham- 



68 DIVINE HEALING 

prayed unto God; and God healed Abimelech and 
his family. Also the prayer of Isaac, Gen. 25: 21. 
And of Jacob. — Gen. 30. 

In Exodus 8-1 1 chapters we read of the power of 
God wrought through Moses by bringing the ten 
plagues upon Pharaoh and staying them at his com- 
mand. Afterwards of the parting of the waters of 
the Red Sea that the children of Israel passed through 
upon dry ground; the smiting of the rock which 
brought forth water to quench the thirst of the people. 

At one time when the people spoke against God 
and against Moses, "The. Lord sent fiery serpents 
among the people, and they bit the people; and much 
people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to 
Moses and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken 
against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the 
Lord that he take away the serpents from us. And 
Moses prayed for the people, and the Lord said unto 
Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a 
pole: and it shall come to pass that every one that is 
"bitten, when he looketh upon it shall live. And 
Moses made a serpent of brass and put it upon a pole, 
and it came to pass that if a serpent had bitten any 
man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." 
— Num. 21: 6-9. It was through an act of faith that 
the people were healed of the wounds of the deadly 
•serpent, for unless their belief was strong enough to 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 6g 

induce them to " look and live," they would perish^ 
At the present time the people have one to whom 
they can " look and live." For, " As Moses lifted up 
the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son 
of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him 
should not perish, but have eternal life." And this 
same Jesus offers to heal all manner of disease, and 
give us whatsoever we ask in faith believing. 

In the case of Hezekiah we have a witness to the 
wonderful manifestations of the power of the Lord 
in the healing of diseases, and the prolonging of life 
even after the prophet of the Lord had told him that 
the time had come for him to die. 

" In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. 
And the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, came to 
him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set 
thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. 
Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto 
the Lord, saying, I beseech thee, O Lord, remember 
now how I have walked before thee in truth and 
with a perfect heart, and have done that which is 
good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore; and it 
came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the 
middle court, that the word of the Lord came to 
him, saying, Turn again and tell Hezekiah, the cap- 
tain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of 
David thy father: I ^have heard thy prayer, I have 



yo DIVINE HEALING 

seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third 
day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord* 
And I will add unto thy days fifteen years." — 2 
Kings 20: 1-6. 

The prophet Elisha was a man of God, known as 
such wherever he went. His fame was spread abroad 
throughout the land because of his wonderful power 
with God. Through his fervent prayers and close 
walk and communion with God he was enabled to 
perform miracles in the sight of men; such as raising 
the dead to life; parting the waters of Jordan by 
smiting them with the mantle of Elijah; causing 
iron to swim; confounding kings and armies, and 
many other things which only could be done through 
the power of God. The following instances are 
among the many wonderful manifestations of His 
power wrought through His servant, the first of 
which is the raising of the Shunammite's son. 

THE WIDOW'S SON RESTORED TO LIFE. 

" And when the child was grown, it fell on a day 
that he went out to his father to the reapers. And 
he said unto his father, My head, my head! And 
he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. And 
when he had taken him, and brought him to his 
mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 
And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the 
man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went 



^mmmm 



OF SOUL AND BODY. yi 

out. And she called unto her husband, and said 
Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and 
one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, 
and come again. And he said, wherefore wilt thou 
go to him today? it is neither new moon, nor sab- 
bath. And she said, It shall be well. Then she 
saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and 
go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid 
thee. So she went and came unto the man of God 
to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the 
man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi 
his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: Run 
now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it 
well with thee? Is it well with thy husband? Is it well 
with the child? And she answered, It is well. And 
when she came to the man of God to the hill, she 
caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to 
thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her 
alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the 
Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. 
Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I 
not say, Do not deceive me? Then he said to Ge- 
hazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine 
hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute 
him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not 
again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. 
And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, 



J2 DIVINE HEALING 

and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he 
arose and followed her. And Gehazi passed on be- 
fore them, and laid the staff upon the face of the 
child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. 
Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him,, 
saying, the child is not awaked. And when Elisha 
was come into the house, behold, the child was 
dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, 
and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto 
the Lord. And he went up, and lay upon the child 
and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes 
upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and 
he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh 
of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and 
walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and 
stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed 
seven times, and the child opened his eyes. And he 
called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So 
he called her. And when she was come in unto him he 
said, Take up thy son. Then she went in, and fell 
at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and 
took up her son, and went out." — 2 Kings 4: 18—37- 

NAAMAN CLEANSED OF LEPROSY. 

" Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of 
Syria, was a great man with his master, and honor- 
able, because by him the Lord had given deliverance 
unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in Yalor, bu 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 73 

he was a leper. And the Syrians had gone out by- 
companies, and had brought away captive out of the 
land of Israel a little maid: and she waited on Naa- 
man's wife. And she said unto her mistress, Would 
God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! 
for he would recover him of his leprosy. And one 
went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus 
said the maid that is of the land of Israel. And the 
king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter 
unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took 
with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand 
pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. And he 
brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now 
when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have 
therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou 
mayest recover him of his leprosy. And it came to 
pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, 
that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill 
and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me 
to recover a man of his leprosy? Wherefore consider, 
I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against 
me. And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had 
heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, 
that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou 
rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he 
shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. So 
Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, 



74 DIVINE HEALING 

and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And 
Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and 
wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come 
again unto thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naa~ 
man was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I 
thought, he will surely come out to me, and stand, 
and call on the name of the Lord his God, and 
strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 
Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus' 
better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash 
in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away 
in a rage. And his servants came near, and spake 
unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had 
bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have 
done it? how much rather then, when he saith to 
thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and 
dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to 
the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came 
again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was 
clean." — 2 Kings 5: 1-14. 

Here we find an instance of direct obedience to 
the commands of God, even in what would, and did 
seem to be very small and simple matters of instruc- 
tion, which had to be carried out to the full extent 
of the directions given, before the work was accom- 
plished. It was not enough for this captain to 
believe that he would be healed by making applica- 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 75 

tion to the prophet, but he had to go and wash him- 
self seven times in the river Jordan. As he was a 
man of authority, he thought surely the man of God 
would come out and make a great ado over him; but 
on the other hand the prophet only sent a messen- 
ger and told him to go and wash in Jordan. This 
at first seemed to be too small a matter for him to 
perform; it was beneath his dignity and did not 
meet his anticipations; was just a little too humilia- 
ting, yet he had to come to the point where he 
would willingly obey, and as soon as he obeyed, and 
had dipped seven times, he was made every whit 
whole. Dipping in another river would not have 
sufficed; dipping six times only would have left him 
still a leper. 

This instance of healing teaches us a lesson which 
we will find taught all through the Word of God, 
that to obtain healing through the power of God, 
we must obey his word by doing that which he has 
commanded. Under the present gospel dispensa- 
tion there are professing Christians who almost ab- 
hor the idea of obeying James 5: 14, 15, by anoint- 
ing with oil, and laying on of hands, and praying 
over the sick for their recovery. Where you find 
persons rejecting these commands, you will find they 
do not take God as their only physician. The virtue 
is not in the oil, any more than in the waters of 



76 DIVINE HEALING 

Jordan, but in Christ. When faith and works unite 
upon a line with God's word, then virtue goes forth 
and the work is accomplished, and the captive now 
set free can "stand still and see the salvation of the 
Lord," and shout victory over sin and disease. 

■■ ■» •*•»■ «« Bw ii 

CHAPTER V. 

NEW TESTAMENT WITNESSES. 

Turning to the New Testament, we find that fore- 
most among the workers of miracles was Jesus: He 
who said, "All pewer is given unto me in heaven 
and in earth;" the incarnate Son of God, who was 
without sin, " neither was guile found in his mouth." 
The miracles wrought by him are so numerous that 
it is not necessary to give a detailed account of 
many of them, and by only referring to a few of 
them will be sufficient to show the most skeptic that 
his power was unlimited. 

At the close of his sermon on the mount, Jesus 
came down from the mountain, and a leper came 
unto him, and as Jesus touched him, he was cleansed 
of his leprosy. Next he healed the centurion's ser- 
vant of palsy, and did not even go to visit the 
servant, but only spoke the word and the work was 
done. He touched theTtand of Peter's wife's mother 
and the fever left her. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 77 

"When even was come, they brought unto him 
many that were possessed with devils: and he cast 
out the spirits with his word, and healed all that 
were sick: that it might be fulfilled, which was spo- 
ken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our 
infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." — Matt. 8: 1-17. 
In the following chapter we read of a certain ruler 
who had great faith in the power of Jesus, who came 
to him, saying, 

"My daughter is even now dead: but come and 
lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus 
arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 
And, behold, a woman which was diseased with an 
issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and 
touched the hem of his garment: For she said within 
herself, If I may but touch his garment I shall be whole. 
But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he 
said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath 
made thee whole. And the woman was made whole 
from that hour. And when Jesus came into the ruler's 
house, and saw the minstrels and the people making 
a noise, he said unto them, Give place: for the maid 
is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to 
scorn But when the people were put forth, he went 
in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 
And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land. 
And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men fol- 



?8 DIVINE HEALING 

lowed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, 
have mercy on us. And when he was come into the 
house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith 
unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They 
said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their 
eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 
And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly 
charged them, saying, See that no man know it. But 
they, when they were departed, spread abroad his 
fame in all that country. And as they went out, be- 
hold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed 
with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the 
dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, 
It was never so seen in Israel. But the Pharisees 
said, He casteth out devils through the prince of 
the devils. And Jesus went about all the cities and 
villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching 
the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sick- 
ness and every disease among the people." 

Here we see that not only the dead was raised, but 
he healed "every sickness and every disease among 
the people;" " insomuch that the multitude wonder- 
ed, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed 
to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: 
and they glorified the God of Israel." 

These miracles of healing; the feeding of the five 
thousand; (Mark 6.) turning water into wine; 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 79 

(Jno. 2.) stilling the storm; (Luke 8.) walking on 
the sea; (Matt. 16.) and many others show his su- 
pernatural power, yet when he called his disciples 
he gave them power to do the same things, and did 
not even limit the power to the apostles alone, but to 
those who would believe on him; for he said: 
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on 
me, the works that I do shall he do also; andgreater 
works than these shall he do; because I go unto my 
Father. * * If ye shall ask anything in my name, I 
will do it.' ; — 14: 12-14. 

" When he had called unto him his twelve disci- 
ples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to 
cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness 

and all manner of disease And as ye go, preach, 

saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal 
the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out 
devils; freely ye have received, freely give." — Jno. 
10: 1-8. Mark 16: 15-18. 

He gave a like commission to the seventy whom 
he sent forth, and when they returned they rejoiced 
on account of these things, but Jesus told them to 
rejoice that their names were written in heaven 

In Jno. 14: 16, another Comforter was promised, 
which prpmise was fulfilled. — Acts 2: 4. 

The scriptures have already been given showing 
the miraculous power of our Lord and Savior, and 



So DIVINE HEALING 

his command to his disciples to do the same things; 
and now we will give attention to what took place 
after the death of our blessecT Savior. As they had 
before gone forth working miracles and preaching 
the kingdom, it. seemed now that a double portion 
of power had been bestowed upon them, as " they 
were all of one accord in one place on the day of 
Pentecost, the Spirit gave them utterance to speak 
with such power and authority that the different 
nations of people were astonished at them, and 
Peter was not afraid to give them the plain truth, 
and expose the wickedness of the people. 

Now followed a circumstance substantiating the 
words of Jesus, and showing his power through his 
children. 

THE LAME MAN HEALED. 

As " Peter and John went up together into the 
the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth 
hour, and a certain man lame from his mother's 
womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate 
of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms 
of them that entered into the temple; who, seeing 
Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked 
an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him 
with John, said, Look $n us. And he gave heed 
unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 81 

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but 
such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus 
Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took 
him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and im- 
mediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 
And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered 
with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, 
and praising God. And all the people saw him 
walking and praising God: and they knew that it 
was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of 
the temple: and they were filled with wonder and 
amazement at that which had happened unto him. 
And as the lame man which was healed held Peter 
and John, all the people ran together unto them in 
the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly won- 
dering." — Acts 3: I— II. 

Quite an excitement followed, which brought 
many people out to hear the Word of God preached 
and doubtless many came through mere curiosity; 
however the truth preached had its effect and about 
five thousand souls were saved. For this cause 
Peter and John were put in prison, and upon being- 
released were threatened and warned not to teach 
in the name of Jesus any more. But they went in 
prayer and said: " Now, Lord, behold their threat- 
enings; and grant unto thy servants that with all 
boldness they may speak thy word, by stretching 



12 DIVINE HEALING 

forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and won- 
ders may be done by the name of thy holy child 
Jesus." And in a very short time afterward, ''they 
were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And 
of the rest durst no man join himself to them; but 
the people magnified them. And believers were the 
more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men 
and women; insomuch that they brought forth the 
sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and 
couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing 
by might overshadow some of them. There came 
also a multitude out of the cities round about unto 
Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were 
vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed 
every one."— -Acts 5: 12-16. Jesus healed all those 
who were brought unto him that were sick, and here we 
find his disciples doing the same thing, for the 
Word says, "They were healed every one." 

HEALED OF PALSY. — DEAD RAISED. 

"And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout 
all quarters, he came down also to the saints which 
dwelt at Lydda. And there'he found a certain man 
named vEneas, which had kept his bed eight years 
and was sick of the palsy. And Peter said unto him, 
^Eneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and 
make thy bed. And he arose immediately. And all that 
dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned ta 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 83 

the Lord. Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple 
named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dor- 
cas: this woman was full of good works and alms- 
deeds which she did. And it came to pass in those 
days that she was sick, and died: whom when they had 
washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. And for- 
asmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disci- 
ples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto 
him two men, desiring him that he would not delay 
to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with 
them. When he was come, they brought him into 
the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him 
weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which 
Dorcas made, while she was with them. But Peter 
put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; 
and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And 
she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she 
sat up. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up; 
and when he had called the saints and widows, he 
presented her alive. And it was known throughout 
all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord." — Acts 
9: 32-42. 

Many wonderful things were performed by the 
other apostles, also showing forth the power of God 
to heal the body and save the soul. And these 
manifestations of the power of God were always 
followed by much persecution, because it had a 



84 DIVINE HEALING 

tendency to draw people to Christ, and also the 
enemies of the sacred truth of the Gospel, were 
stirred up often to violence of the worst kind. The 
disciples did not fear to preach the Gospel in all its 
purity, and with all plainness of speech declare the 
whole counsel of God, exposing the wickedness of 
evil doers and the horrors of sin. When Paul and 
Barnabas came to Iconium, the Lord "granted signs 
and wonders to be done by their hands," among 
which was 

THE HEALING. OF A CRIPPLE. 

" And there sat a man at Lystra, impotent in 
his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, 
who never had walked. The same heard Paul speak: 
who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that 
he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, 
Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and 
walked." — Acts 14: 8-10. 

SPIRIT OF DIVINATION CAST OUT. 

When they went to Macedonia, Paul says, " It 
•came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel 
possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which 
brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: the 
same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These 
men are the servants of the most high God, which 
shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she 
many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 85 

said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of 
Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out 
the same hour." — Acts 16: 16-18. 

Upon Paul's return to Macedonia, God again 
manifested his power through him, in a miraculous 
way in 

RAISING THE DEAD. 

"And there sat in a window a certain young man 
named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and 
as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with 
sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was 
taken up dead. And Paul went down, and fell on 
him, and embracing him said, Trouble not your- 
selves; for his life is in him. When he therefore 
was come up again, and had broken bread, and 
eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of 
day, so he departed. And they brought the young 
man alive, and were not a little comforted." — Acts 
20: 9-12. 

At the time when they were shipwrecked and cast 
on the island of Melita, among a barbarous people, 
Paul " gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on 
the fire; there came a viper out of the heat, and 
fastened on ;his hand. And when the barbarians 
saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said 
among themselves, No doubt this man is a mur- 
derer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet 



86 DIVINE HEALING 

vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off 
the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. Howbeit 
they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen 
down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a 
great while, and saw no harm come to him, they 
changed their minds, and said that he was a god. In 
the same quarters were possessions of the chief man 
•of the island, whose name was Publius; who received 
us, and lodged us three days courteously. And it 
came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a 
fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered 
in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and 
healed him. So when this was done, others also, 
which had diseases in the island, came, and were 
healed." — Acts 28: 3-9. 

By reading the Word we find that the power to do 
such things was given to others besides the twelve 
apostles. In the tenth chapter of Saint Luke we 
find the seventy whom Christ sent forth were en- 
dued with the same power. And in the last chapter 
of Mark we find this power was given to "them 
that believe." It was through the faith of some 
of those believers that even the prison doors were 
-opened and Peter set at liberty, for " prayer was 
made without ceasing of the church unto God for 
him." — Acts 12: 5. Many other testimonies migh$ 
be given, but it is unnecessary, for in "the mouth of 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 87 

two or three witnesses shall every word be estab- 
lished." The command in the last chapter of Saint 
Mark, which was given to "them that believe/' has 
never been done away with, and never will be as long 
as God has a people on earth who have faith enough 
to believe and obey his word. When the day of 
healing is past, and God refuses to fulfill those 
promises, rest assured that the day of faith will 
also be past, and salvation work will be at an end. 

CHAPTER VI. 

THE APOSTASY. 

The Christian era is represented in the Word of 
God as a day, — a " day of the Lord," which dawned 
with all the brightness of the morning. The holy 
prophets of old foretold this notable time when 
Christ would establish his church upon the earth, 
and to those who would fear the name of the Lord 
would the " Sun of righteousness arise with healing 
in his wings." This " Sun of righteousnes ' was 
Christ, the light of the world; He who came to save 
the people from their sins and establish them in the 
ways of truth. He was a light to them that sat in 
darkness, and they who were willing to humble 
themselves and become his disciples, he gave power 
over devils and victory over the wickedness of this 
world. His disciples were of the " same mind," and 



88 DIVINE HEALING 

saw " eye to eye," and through the name of Jesus 
they were enabled to perform miracles in the sight 
of men, and devils were made to " fear and tremble." 
The church of God was not a human organized con- 
cern then, any more than it is at the present day. 
Christ placed the members in the body as it pleased 
him. It is a " glorious church, not having spot or 
wrinkle, or any such thing." — Eph. 5: 27. And all 
the members are holy, and not one of them living 
in sin, because Christ is the door into this church, 
and nothing sinful can enter. The only way to get 
into God's church is to be born into it, and we are 
then in his family; a son of God; a child of the 
king; a branch of the true vine. 

Having then been born of God, and already a 
member of his body, would it not be presumption 
to think of joining anything else in order to belong 
to the church, when we are already in the church 
the very moment we get salvation? 

This church was founded upon Christ, the Rock 
of our salvation. — Matt. 16: 18. It is his body. — 
Col. 1: 24. And he is the head of it. — Col. 1: 18. 
He purchased it with his blood. — Acts 2: 20. Its 
name is the Church of God. — 1 Cor. 10:32. The 
class book is kept in heaven. — Heb. 11:24. Salva- 
tion then is the requirement which admits a person 
into the church. (Jno. 10:9.) And God places the 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 8g 

members in the body as it pleases him (i Cor, 
12:13), bestowing such gifts upon them as they 
stand in need of, and all work in sweet harmony. 

In the morning of this Christian era, the church 
had wonderful power; they met together " with one 
accord," and the power of God was wonderfully 
manifested in and through them, and many w r ere 
added unto the church. The sick were healed 
devils were cast out, and the Gospel preached in all 
its purity. 

But as the years passed by, people began to de- 
part from the faith, and bring in false doctrines, 
heresies, schisms, etc., causing divisions, just as Paul 
said would take place. This was the starting point 
of sectism. There had been no human organization 
or creed among God's people since the time of 
Christ; but now, like spirits, such as were fallen 
from grace, began to assemble together and by the 
help of Satan himself, tried to devise some plan to 
deceive souls, and drag them down to ruin. This 
state of affairs continued until the enemy of souls 
had devised a plan to destroy souls by the*whole- 
sale. Before three centuries had passed by, the 
ruling power of the church was centralized in the 
Bishop of Rome, and Roman Catholicism began to 
develop, and another important step was taken in 
the establishing of this creed, in the year 325, when 



go DIVINE HEALING 

the Nicene council was held. This sect, or "mother 
of harlots," as the Bible terms it (Rev. 17: 5), was 
called a church in order to better deceive souls; and 
the " man of sin " which Paul tells us will be made 
manifest, or revealed, is the papal power. People 
were forced, at the peril of their lives, to acknowl- 
edge the pope as the head of the church, and be- 
come submissive to the galling yoke of Catholicism, 
and renounce their former experience and belief. 
And those who would stand true to God, were mar- 
tyred, or had to suffer the most appalling persecu- 
tion, often "resisting unto blood," for the sake of 
Christ. The common people were denied the privi- 
lege of reading the Word of God. An awful time 
of spiritual darkness came upon the land; this was 
the time of which the prophets foretold, when the 
sun would go down at noon. The Sun of righteous- 
ness, or real church of God, seemed to be in obscur- 
ity, hid away behind the dark clouds of papacy: 
nevertheless God had true followers all through this 
time, who would not bow the knee to Baal; who 
preferred to obey God rather than man, and were 
hunted down and persecuted, and had to hide them- 
selves in caves in order to worship God. But "truth 
crushed to earth shall rise again," and thus it proved 
in this great and severe ordeal through which the 
church had to pass. Yet it took centuries for it to 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 9 i 

gain what seemed from an outward appearance, a 
good foothold, in order to rise above the over-hang- 
ing clouds of the spiritual darkness. 

After awhile, a daughter was born into the family 
of mystic Babylon; or, in other words, another sect 
was formed, a split from the old mother of harlots, 
and in a few centuries there was an abundance of 
daughters born into the family, each making a 
league with the devil to bring honest souls into 
bondage, and with their oath of allegiance to obey 
the rules of the family or creed, became " unequally 
yoked together with unbelievers," which the Word 
of God condemns. — 2 Cor. 6: 14. It was not the in- 
tention of those good old reformers to enter into 
any league with the enemy in order to deceive souls. 
They saw the corruption of Romanism, and realized 
the judgments of God upon her, and thus made their 
escape, and not having sufficient light on the Word 
of God, their followers soon drifted into sectism, 
forming creeds one after another with the hope of 
bettering the condition of the church, not discerning 
the "body of Christ," the true church. Dear honest 
souls united with them, believing it to be the best 
thing they could do, and worshiped God with all 
their hearts. Notwithstanding God blessed the 
labors of those who faithfully trusted him, yet that 
was no evidence that sectism itself was right, for 



92 DIVINE HEALING 

they were doubtless walking up to the light they had 
on the Word of God. But the time was not far dis- 
tant when he would send forth his judgments against 
these schisms, and deliver his children but of them, 
revealing unto them the true church of the living 
God. 

Sectism soon reached its highest point, each schism 
or creed claiming to be the church, a branch of the 
true vine. Each fighting the other, having conflict- 
ing views and doctrines of Reaching, yet claiming to 
belong to that one body, the "church of the living 
God." O what darkness! what blindness! what 
soul-deceiving, soul-destroying nets and snares the 
enemy has prepared to capture the souls of men! 
This is the Babylon spoken of in Revelations. Baby- 
lon means confusion, and mystic Babylon is the 
spiritual confusion in the so-called churches of to day, 
which has been the means of making more infidels 
than have all the infidel writers during the past ages. 
Honest people give their hearts to God, and are 
invited and urged to join some of these so-called 
churches, " in order to have a home among God's 
people;" and read in their Bible of the unity of 
God's church, and begin to look about them, and 
find all the creeds arrayed, one against the other. 
The consequence is, many, when they find them- 
selves thus duped, come to the conclusion that 



OF SOUL AND BODY. gj 

Christianity is a farce and a failure, and thus infidel- 
ity takes up its abode in the heart, and multitudes 
are led astray and lost throughout eternity. The 
departing from "the faith once delivered to the 
saints," was the beginning of sectism; was the be- 
ginning of the apostasy. From that time the church 
was shorn of its strength; what real honest souls 
were left were mostly joined to some branch of 
Babylon, and were not permitted to assert their 
liberty in Christ according to the Word of God, be- 
cause of the rigid rules of their creed. Then came 
an awful famine throughout the land, a starving of 
souls, for want of spiritual food- — the true bread of 
life. This famine is the one spoken of by the proph- 
et Amos: " Behold, the days come, saith the Lord 
God, that I will send a famine in the land; not a 
famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but a hearing 
of the words of the Lord." — Amos 8: n. Truly 
this time has already come, and has been realized in 
the last few centuries. Ministers all over the land 
have become false shepherds, fleecing the flock and 
leaving them to starve. " Blind watchmen," accord- 
ing to Isa. 56: 9-12. " Having a form of godliness, 
but denying the power thereof: from such turn 
away." — 2 Tim. 3: 5. Is it any wonder that spiritual 
darkness prevails throughout the land, when such 
doctrines are taught from the pulpit, the press, at 



94 DIVINE HEALING 

home, and everywhere? With "fair words and 
smooth speeches," people are rocked to sleep (spir- 
itually) right on the brink of hell, and seem to be 
unconcerned regarding the welfare of their souls; 
unawakened to their awful condition; joined to 
their idols; and because they were at ease in Zion — 
if they have ever advanced enough to enter her 
portals, — have become " lukewarm," and have been 
spewed out, because they were neither ' cold nor hot/ 

O the famishing of souls! the pestilence of unbe- 
lief and deception! it is widespread, almost univer- 
sal. Darkness covers the land, and the scene is too 
appalling to behold. 

What has been termed the church, has long ago 
entered the bridal chamber with the world, and the 
devil officiating at the nuptial ceremony, sealing the 
service with a smile of approval, and best wishes 
that their happiness may continue and their fellow- 
ship never be broken. The happy bridal pair' long 
ago entered upon their honeymoon, and as they 
travel along, bedecked alike in a gaudy dress of 
worldly fashions, many church socials, fairs, sup- 
pers, aristocratic parties, etc., are given in honor of 
the same, and there is a time of general festivity 
and revelry. 

The all-seeing eye of God witnesses the scene, 
and he sends forth his messenger declaring with a 



OF SOUL AND BODY. g$ 

strong voice, saying: " Babylon- the great is fallen, 
is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils^and 
the hold of every foul spirit," etc. — Rev. 18: 2. 

The great literal city of Babylon was taken in a 
time of festivity and revelry, while king Belshazzar 
was having a feast, and the people were drunken 
with wine. How true a type of the taking of spir- 
itual Babylon, and her utter fall, while " all nations 
have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornica- 
tion." — Rev. 18: 3. " Thus shall Babylon sink to 
rise no more." — Jer. 51: 64. 

— _ ■ —» ■ .^ii . 

CHAPTER VII. 

THE EVENING LIGHT. 

"But it shall be one day which shall be known to 
the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to 
pass, that at evening time it shall be light." — 
Zech. 14: 7. 

"In that day there shall be a fountain opened to 
the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jeru- 
salem, for sin and uncleanness." — Zech. 13: 1. 

" Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put 
on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy 
city: for henceforth there shall no more come into 
thee the uncircumcised and the unclean." — Isa. 52: 1. 

Amid all the spiritual confusion in these last days, 
God has a people, a " remnant," and the time has 



g6 DIVINE HEALING 

come when he is calling them together in the unity 
of his love. A holy people, a pure church, whose 
light cannot be hid, but shineth with the brightness 
of the morning. It was on account of their depart- 
ing from the " faith once delivered unto the saints," 
that the Lord permitted his children to be taken 
captive in mystic Babylon; but he says, "Ye shall 
seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me 
with all your heart; and I will be found of you, and 
will turn away your captivity, and will gather you 
from all the nations," etc. — Jer. 29: 14. 

" Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, 
then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand 
before me: and if thou take forth the precious from 
the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return 
unto thee; but return not thou unto them." — 
Jer. 15: 19. 

The time has now come when God s true church — 
the bride of Christ — shines forth with all its splen- 
dor and beauty, fair as the noonday, bright as the 
morning, endued with strength and power from on 
high, as in the morning of the Christian era; " a 
glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any 
such thing;" exercising the gifts of the Spirit as 
God intended from the beginning; free from the 
babylon confusion of sectism; clothed in the glor- 
ious robes of full salvation. The Lord is sending 



OF SOUL AND BODY. gj 

his messengers forth to the four winds of the earth 
.gathering together the elect — his people — teaching 
them the oneness of Christ, and exposing the spir- 
itual darkness and utter ruin of Babylon. In Rev. 
18:2, we read the doom of this mystic Babylon, and 
in verse 4 is a positive command to the children of 
God, saying, " Come out of her, my people, that ye 
be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not 
•of her plagues." 

Dear reader, this command is for you, if you are 
a child of God, and yoked up in some religious 
creed. If you are not a child of God, then rest 
assured that the command is not for you, and it is 
for you to choose, as to whether or not you will be 
classed with what is described in Rev. 18: 2. You 
may consider this strong language, but the salva- 
tion of your soul depends upon the obeying of the 
Word of God. 

" My people, go ye out of the midst of her and 
deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger 
■of the Lord." — Jer. 51: 45. 

Go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that 
bear the vessels of the Lord." — Isa. 52: 11. 

In presenting these truths, we do not wish to be 
misunderstood, but desire to give light to the good 
people who are yet in sectism. There are many 
good honest souls in the different religious denom- 



g8 DIVINE HEALING 

inations of to day, longing for the time to come 
when God's people will all be " one," and united in 
the one body, as Christ prayed that they should 
be. Jno. 17: 21. The creeds of to day are seeking 
some plan upon which to unite, but fail, for the 
walls of division are still there. This holy union is^ 
found only in Christ. Behold, the time is now here 
for this oneness, and his children discern the real 
spiritual body of Christ — his church — and are bound 
together with love, instead of disciplines and rules 
of men. 

This evening light is the shining forth of the true 
church, and Zion puts on her strength, and is m> 
longer in obscurity, nor her people bound down 
with thongs of opinions; no longer to sing the 
songs of Zion in a strange land, but are brought into 
their "own land"— perfected holiness — which is the 
Canaan to the soul. 

Sectism will continue as before, and her inhabit- 
ants go on professing godliness, deceiving and being 
deceived, but a line of demarkation will be drawn 
by the Word of God, which plainly points out the 
narrow way — the only way to heaven. We dare not 
falter; dare not refuse to walk in the light of the 
Gospel, for Jesus says: "Walk while ye have the 
light, lest darkness come upon you. * * * While ye 
have light, believe in the light." — Jno. 12: 35, 36. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. gg 

CHAPTER VIII. 

THE PROMISE OF HIS POWER. 

The scriptures tell us of a time when God will 
pour out his Spirit upon his people, which was to 
take place in the last days of time, and the last 
days are those from the time of Christ, and prophe- 
cy is rapidly being fulfilled; and the time of the end 
is near at hand when the Lord will be seen coming 
in the clouds, declaring that time will be no more, 
and all will be changed in the " twinkling of an eye" 
at the last trump. 

That which was spoken by the prophet Joel, has 
come to pass, wherein the Lord said, " I will pour 
out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and 
your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men 
shall see visions, and your old men shall dream 
dreams: and on my servants and on my hand 
maidens will I pour out in those days of my Spirit; 
and they shall prophesy." — Acts 2: 17, 18. 

In the last days also it was foretold that many 
should depart from the "faith once delivered to the 
saints," and evil doers would wax worse and worse, 
and spiritual darkness, wars, and rumors of war, 
pestilence, famine, etc., reign throughout the land; 
but in the evening time the church shall receive her 
primitive power, and shine forth with the glory of 
God, and rivers of living water shall flow from those 



ioo DIVINE HEALING 

who believe on the Son of God; and his people 
shall be a " peculiar people, zealous of good works." 
Thank God! that time has already come, and is now 
here. The great judgment day is near at hand, and 
the church — his bride — is arrayed in the glory of his 
power, ready to meet him at his coming. 

: : r agi » 

CHAPTER IX. 

THE GIFT^ OF HEALING. 

It has been a question in the minds of many 
followers of Jesus Christ, whether or not they have 
a right to claim any of the special gifts of the Spirit, 
as spoken of in the twelfth chapter of First Corinth- 
ians. Every sanctified child of God possesses all 
these gifts of the Spirit in a degree, although not as 
a special gift; but to such an extent as to be able to 
obey the Word in all things. They have a degree of 
wisdom, of knowledge, faith, etc., sufficient to live a 
Christian life, and work for the s^Vvation of souls, 
and yet may not realize any one of them as a special 
gift. A person will not go far in the active service 
of the Lord without feeling the need of some special 
gift of the Spirit, for a close walk and communion 
with the Lord will open up avenues of labor and 
usefulness where one will feel like seeking the great- 
est glory of God by being fully equipped for his 
service; will feel like obeying I Cor. 12: 31, and 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 101 

" covet earnestly the best gifts," in order to be 
qualified for the work of the Master. 

It must be borne in mind that there is a great 
responsibility resting upon those unto whom God 
entrusts these precious gifts. " For unto whomso- 
ever much is given, of him shall be much required." 
God intends that they be used to his glory, and not 
abused by a lazy, or faithless servant, and His cause 
thus put to shame. There are persons who fear to 
move out upon the promises of God and be fully 
submissive to his will in all things, for fear God will 
require some great work of them; require them to 
take some responsible position in his vineyard. Do 
you know, such ones are a stumbling block to souls? 
They are generally persons who have more influence 
over others than they themselves realize, and their 
faltering steps get them between God and a multi- 
tude of souls. Such ones are often made to realize 
the weight of Luke 12:47: — "And that servant, 
which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not him- 
self, neither did according to His will, shall be 
beaten with many stripes." "To him that knoweth 
to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." — 
Jas. 4: 17. 

To every minister that God sends forth to preach 
the Gospel, in the commission is to be found the 
command to go forth and " preach the Gospel, heal 



102 DIVINE HEALING 

the sick," etc.; but how many there are who are not 
living up to their privileges; not fulfilling the com- 
mission. 

The promise was that " these signs shall follow 
them that believe," — Mark 16: 17; and among the 
signs mentioned were, ''They shall lay hands on the 
sick, and they shall recover." Jesus also said, " He 
that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he 
do also, and greater works than these shall he do; 
because I go unto my Father." — J no. 14: 12. It is 
the privilege and duty of every minister of the Gos- 
pel to possess and exercise the gifts of healing, be- 
cause that comes with the commission, and they 
should be qualified at any time to respond to the 
call in James 5: 14-15. So also should every elder 
possess the gifts of healing, and whoever will re- 
ceive and use them to the glory of God. But woe 
unto them who seek these gifts for self praise orfor 
some selfish motive; or who will shrink from exer- 
cising the gifts which God has given them, for they 
"shall be beaten with many stripes." As the mem- 
bers of our body "have not the same office: so we, 
being many, are one body in Christ, and every one 
members one of another, having gifts differing ac- 
cording to the grace that is given to us." — Rom. 
12: 4-6. It is not necessary for every one to possess 
.any one of the special gifts, yet God withholds from 



OF SOUL AND BODY. ioj 

none whom he calls to special work for him, if they 
•can and will use the same to his glory, and will 
follow so closely in his footsteps as to be trusted 
with such a treasure from the Lord, and not become 
puffed up, and thereby take the praise themselves, 
and lose the grace of God, should he see fit to do 
some wonderful work through them. As to claiming 
our rights and privileges on this line, no doubt some 
of my own experience would be of benefit to some 
one. Until about the time the Lord called me into 
his service to publish the Gospel, I was taught that 
the day of miracles was past, and divine healing 
forever ceased, and was not practiced after the days 
of the apostles. But by reading my Bible, I soon 
learned different, and was not only convinced that 
the Word taught that I had been falsely instructed, 
but found that God had a people who believed his 
word, and practiced its teaching. 

Soon after being called into the work of the Lord, 
I felt the need of some special gifts of the Spirit, 
and especially the gifts of healing. Not considering 
myself a preacher, it was a question in my mind as 
to whether or not I had a right to claim the same. 
And when convictions came that I ought to possess 
certain gifts, I would pray over the matter, and ask 
the Lord to show me his will regarding it. Soon 
after a young brother and myself attended a cottage 



io4 DIVINE HEALING 

prayer meeting whore the Lord wonderfully mani- 
fested His power. In the same room was a boy of 
fourteen years of age who had been sick for several 
weeks, and at the elose of the meeting he asked lis 
to Lay hands on him and ask the Lord to heal him. 
Now came the test. Neither of us had ever laid on 
hands for healing, but we proceeded in the name of 
the Lord, and the boy was instantly healed. The 
devil tried to make me believe it was all done 
through the faith of the young man who was with 
me, and that I did not possess the gift. 

I once more sought the Lord to know his will, 
and a few days later, while at the house of an elder 
of the church, a sister who was very much afflicted 
with a chronic disease -scrofula in her face- desired 
to obey James 5: 14, and a deep conviction came 
upon me that I should lay on hands; and about the 
same time the elder turned to me and invited me to- 
do so, and the sister was instantly healed, and gave 
God the glory. Knowing that many had been healed 
through the prayers of this elder, I again permitted 
the enemy to bring the same accusation. The Lord 
showed me in different ways that it was my privi- 
lege to claim it. so I asked him to give me a chance 
to test the matter. Not long after, a sister came 
several miles, with a very sick babe, to get me to 
lay on hands and pray for its recovery. This time 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 105 

there was no one to lay on hands with me, and I 
proceeded according to James 5: 14, 15, believing; 
the Lord would raise up the child. Not much 
change was to be seen as she took her departure for 
home, and it was a number of days before the child 
fully recovered. I was still in doubt regarding the 
gift, when a brother instructed me on this line, and 
presented the Word of God on the subject, and told 
me that as God had'called me to such a responsible 
position it was necessary for me to possess the gifts 
of healing, and I should make a special consecration 
or request of the Lord, and claim them, which I did, 
and from that time have not doubted my possession 
of these favors, and have since seen hundreds of 
persons healed of various diseases by the power of 
God, and truly realize that the "prayer of faith " 
saves the sick, and the Lord does the raising up. 

—f> in «-^i» — — 

CHAPTER X. 

AVHO ARE THE ELDERS? 

According to the instruction given in James 5: 14, 
the question would naturally arise, Who are the 
elders? In every community where God has his 
church established and set in order, there are one or 
more elders, or overseers of the flock. And to 
whom God calls to such a responsible position, he 
also bestows upon them the gifts of healing, that 



io6 DIVINE HEALING 

they may be able to respond to the call spoken of 
in James. The elder who does not* possess these 
gifts is not living up to his privileges, nor fulfilling 
his calling, because he is unable to administer to the 
wants of those under his care. 

The qualifications of an elder are to be found in 
Titus i: 5-9; I Tim. 3: 1-7. 

Deacons likewise must have the same moral quali- 
fications as an elder, and it is their duty to look 
after the needs of the church, and it is almost neces- 
sary for them to possess these gifts in order to fulfill 
their calling. Again, there are others who are not 
especially called to the office of elder, as overseer, 
or teacher in the church, who possess the special 
gifts of healing, and in the absence of the ruling 
elders or together with them can obey the call in 
James 5: 14, and Mark 16: 16-18. They must have 
a special call to this work, the same as one would to 
the call of the ministry. Even a minister has no 
right to lay on hands according to James 5: 14, 
unless he has faith. In case of an emergency, any 
one who has the faith can lay on hands for healing 
and the Lord will honor the same. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 107 

CHAPTER XL 

WHAT KIND OF OIL TO USE. 

Ever since the days of the patriarchs of old, the 
oil of olive has been used for sacred purposes. It 
was one of the ingredients used in making the oint- 
ment used by Moses for anointing purposes. The 
Hebrew name for this ointment is sheme/i. 

The oil spoken of in James 5: 14; Mark 6: 13; 
Luke 7: 46, and many other places where used for 
anointing purposes, means oil of olive, and is 
translated from the Greek word elaion. Here we 
find the oil of olive an ointment of itself, used es- 
pecially for anointing the sick, and for other sacred 
purposes. 

CHAPTER XII. 

ANOINTING AND CONSECRATION. 

Of the anointing spoken of in the Bible we should 
not fail to remember that the first one should be the 
anointing of the soul by the Holy Spirit. The soul 
should be at peace with God, and abounding in his 
love, where it will be a pleasure to walk in the foot- 
steps of Jesus, and follow his instructions in all 
things. Yet how often we find some of his followers 
lagging just as far behind as the)* can possibly get, 
without completely losing sight of the Savior, seem- 
ingly afraid to trust in his word, and obey his 



108 DIVINE HEALING 

command. O faithless generation, awake from your 
drifting state of unbelief; get out of " Doubting 
Castle," and into the front ranks of battle, on the 
line of faith, ready to follow the command of him 
who leadeth on to victory. 

Some are willing to do almost anything else, when 
sick, except obey the instruction in James 5: 14, and 
send for the elders to anoint them with oil and pray 
over them. It is no wonder they are chastened of 
the Lord, and " beaten with many stripes," as it 
were. There is something very sacred about the 
anointing with oil. The virtue is not in the oil, and 
merely rubbing on a little oil of itself would do no 
good, but it is to be done because the Word of God 
instructs us to do so, and the anointing is to be done 
in the name of the Lord. We read (Mark 6: 13) that 
the apostles " anointed with oil many that were sick, 
and healed them." The Lord has not changed his 
method of healing, and the same is done to day 
among his true followers. The child of God who 
will not take God for a physician for the body as 
well as for the soul, is a rebellious child, and spends 
hours of needless suffering. O how sweet to be just 
where we can trust God for all things. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. iog 

CHAPTER XIII. 

CAN I BE HEALED ? 

Many who have long been suffering with some 
chronic or acute disease, the question naturally 
arises, Can I ever be healed? A few questions in 
response, may throw some light upon the subject 
for you. Are you at peace with God, wholly sancti- 
fied to do his will, abounding in his love? if not, it 
is your duty and privilege to be wholly the Lord's. 
Is God getting any glory out of your sickness? if 
not, you had better obey and believe his word, and 
be healed. Have you called for the elders, or had 
the prayer of faith offered? Have you earnestly 
enquired of the Lord to know the cause of your 
sickness? and would you remove the cause if he 
were to show you your duty on that line? His 
promises are sure, and if you earnestly seek him, if 
it is not his will to heal you he will reveal it unto 
you, and give you grace to bear your affliction. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

SICK FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. 

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the 
Lord delivereth him out of them all." — Psa. 34: 19. 
Yet there are many spending a whole lifetime of pain 
and misery, unable to work for the Lord or for 
themselves, wearing away the threads of life, and 



no DIVINE HEALING 

still keeping up as much courage and patience as 
possible, trying to make themselves believe it is the 
will of God for them to thus continue life unto the 
end, and be " made perfect through suffering." If 
any one desire, and prefer such a life, amen; let 
them have it. But the Lord promises us better 
things. He promises to " take away all our diseases," 
and in his word sets forth the remedy. The Lord 
often receives glory through the affliction of his 
children. Often the souls of others are brought to 
him through the affliction of some of his children, 
but it is generally by the manifestation of his power 
in healing the affliction. He permits afflictions to 
come upon others sometimes because they disobey 
some of his laws, and fail to walk uprightly before 
him as they should; or to bring them to a point 
where they will make a complete surrender to his 
will in all things, and their souls receive a fresh 
anointing from the presence of the Lord to equip 
them for future service in his vineyard. The parent 
who loves his child will chasten it when necessary, 
and continue the same until it becomes obedient. 
So it is with our heavenly parent; he often sees fit 
to '• chasten whom he loveth," and "scourgeth 
every son whom he receiveth." — Heb. 12:6. Dear 
children of God should not, when afflictions come 
upon them, feel that God has forsaken them, but on 



OF SOUL AND BODY. in 

the other hand seek earnestly to know his will, and 
be obedient. To do otherwise would be rebellion 
against his will, and bring a more severe chastening. 

A few months ago a woman wrote me a letter, 
and said she had been almost a helpless invalid for 
over forty years, and felt it was the will of God to 
patiently endure her sickness, yet she knew of no 
special way in which he was receiving glory, except 
through her being made perfect through suffering. 

It is through doing the will of God that we are 
made perfect. Many would become exalted, and 
turn from the ways of the Lord, were his chastening 
rod not applied when needed. When will the lesson 
of obedience be learned, his word believed, and 
the affliction removed? 

It is true Paul had an affliction which he sought 
the Lord to remove, and received the answer, " My 
grace is sufficient;" but this affliction did not. pre- 
vent him working for the Lord, and doubtless kept 
him humble and true to God. We have no evidence 
as to whether this '• thorn in the flesh " remained or 
not. It may have been removed shortly after he 
sought the Lord to take it away. But be that as it 
may. Paul was consecrated to all the will of God, 
and went about his " Master's business." 

We should be consecrated to suffer just as long as 
God desires, but there is great need of people being 



ii2 DIVINE HEALING 

awakened to the great need of more earnestly seek- 
ing to know the will of the Lord and act accordingly. 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE USE OF MEDICINE. 

The use of medicine is for two classes of persons, 
viz: Those who are not acquainted with God, and 
those of his children who are afraid to trust him. 
And while there are some medicines which may be 
used beneficially at times, yet the words of a learned 
doctor are very true; he said: " If all the medicines 
on earth were cast into the seas, humanity would be 
better off, but it would be worse off for the fishes." 

No doubt we wore once about all of us medicine 
topers, and for health and strength were leaning 
upon the " wisdom of men," which is "foolishness 
tto God." But since we have learned to believe the 
Word of God, and move out upon his promises, it is 
an easy thing to trust him alone in times of sick- 
ness. Some one asks, What about broken bones? 
In such cases, if no one present were capable of 
netting it properly, I should call a physician or 
.surgeon, if necessary, to set it, and ask the Lord to 
heal it. I have known of persons having their limbs 
broken, and by setting the bones and calling upon 
the Lord to heal them, in less than Jihree days had 
full use of the injured limb. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. iij 

CHAPTER XVI. 

MEANS WHICH GOD ELESSES. 

People say, " God blesses means, and we should 
do all we can and ask his blessings upon the same." 
To be sure there are things which can at times be 
given to relieve the sick. But there is no remedy 
so effective as the one given in the Bible for the 
children of God to use; none so easily applied. But 
instead of using this God-given remedy, which can 
be had without money and without price, people 
will dope themselves with poisonous drugs, pay 
doctor bills, and thus rob God of means that should 
be used to his glory. Here! you Christian profess- 
ors, just stop a moment and estimate the amount 
you have paid out for medicine and doctor bills for 
the last five or ten years; then see how much you 
have paid out for the cause of Christ, and see if God 
has been receiving his just dues at your hand. Take 
into consideration the fact that he offers his treat- 
ment free. And his prescriptions are for each mem- 
ber of his family; not one excluded. The only 
thing required is to obey his word. Now let us see 
if some of us have not been very slack regarding 
some of our privileges. There is a faithful promise 
in his word that will meet the case of every one, no 
difference where they are, or what their trouble or 
afflictions may be. God blesses means; but the 



U4 DIVINE HEALING 

means he intends for his children to use are those 
set forth in his word. What kind is that? It is 
prayer and faith. James says, " Is any sick among 
you? let him call for the elders of the church; and 
let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in 
the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall 
save the sick; and the Lord shall raise him up."- 
James 5: 14, 15. Here we see that the work is done 
through the prayer of faith, and the Lord does the 
raising up. 

But suppose there are no elders in the community? 
Then we have this promise: That if two of you shall 
agree on earth as touching anything that they shall 
ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is 
in heaven. For where two or three are gathered 
together in my name, there am I in the midst of 
them.- — Matt. 18: 19, 20. Sometimes it happens that 
a person becomes seriously ill, or in great distress, 
and not even one child of God can be brought to 
the rescue. Is there a promise in such a case? O 
yes; a very precious one. Jesus says, "If ye abide 
in me and my words abide in you, ask what ye will 
and it shall be done unto you." — Jno. 15: 7. Just 
emphasize the first part of that promise, and examine 
yourselves and see if you are abiding in him; for it 
is only the abiding ones to whom this promise is 
given. If you are a sinner you have the privilege of 



OF SOUL AND BODY. n 5 

repenting of your sins, and then the promise will be 
yours. 

u And this is the confidence we have in him, that 
if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth 
us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we 
ask, we know that we have the petitions that we 
desired of him." — I Jno. 5: 14, 15. James says: "Is 
any among you afflicted? let him pray." The in- 
junction of the scripture is not to flee for a doctor 
in time of sickness, but rather flee to the Lord, who 
is the Great Physician; who forgiveth all thine in- 
iquities; who healeth all thy diseases." — Psa. 103: 3. 
Be assured that if in any case of sickness the doctor 
can do you any good, the Lord can do much more 
for you, without the aid of the doctor or his medi- 
cine. If you have no faith in God, and want to take 
medicine, take it. But you will find what little 
medicine you do take will weaken the small portion 
of faith which you have, because you look to the 
medicine for results, and not unto the Lord; and 
while the taking of medicine may not be a sin of 
itself, yet it shows a lack of faith and trust in God, 
and opens broad avenues for the sin of unbelief, and 
in most cases is the very cause and hindrance of a 
complete cure being effected. 

One excuse is, "I have no faith." Get it then, for 
faith is a gift of God, and Paul tells us to " covet 



n6 DIVINE HEALING 

earnestly the best gifts." This great blessing is 
given for the asking. Why not possess it? It would 
seem very foolish for afflicted persons to declare 
that it was not the will of God to heal them, and 
yet keep on doctoring and pouring down medicine 
with a hope of being cured in that way. Yet there 
are many who are doing that very thing. Why not 
settle down and be content with your lot, if you 
believe it is his will for you to suffer, and use your 
drug money for the good of others? You will find 
it always more safe to trust your case in the hands 
of the Lord, than to trust in physicians. May God 
help his children to consider these things from a 
Bible standpoint. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

THE PRA1EK OF FAITH. 

In considering this subject, let us notice a few of 
the precious promises of the Lord and see if it is 
safe to pray the prayer of faith, and leave the results 
with God. If ye have faith, Jesus says, "Nothing 
shall be impossible unto you" (Matt. 17: 20); and 
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask 
what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 
15: 17). "If ye shall ask anything in my name, I 
will do it" (John 14: 15). "And this is the confi- 
dence that we have in him, that if we ask anything 



OF SOUL AND BODY. iif 

according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know 
that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that 
we have the petitions that we desired of him." — 
i John 14: 15 

Now we will review the oft quoted passage in 
James 5: 13-16. " Is any among you afflicted," what 
must he do? take medicine? No; a Let him pray." 
" Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders 
of the church; and let them pray over him, anoint- 
ing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the 
prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall 
raise him up" When the prayer of faith is offered, 
the disease is rebuked, and the case in the hands of 
the Lord, and he does the raising up. Whether it is 
done instantly, or a gradual amending^ from that 
time, does not matter; his word stands true, and it 
is for us to believe and doubt not, trusting him to 
sweep away the disease in any way he sees fit. But 
one thing remember, and that is, when you have 
fully complied with the Word of s God, and offered 
the prayer of faith, from that very moment you can 
declare yourself healed by the power of God, be- 
cause his word says, "If we know that he hear us, 
whatsoever we ask, we know that v/e have the peti- 
tions that we desired of him." Although in some 
cases the symptoms and even the pain 'may linger 
for some time, yea, be increased many times, but 



u8 DIVINE HEALING 

laith declares it is done. The tempter whispers, 
You dare not claim it. you are not healed. But at 
such times the true believer rests secure in the 
promises of Jesus, believing, trusting, and giving 
God the glory, realizing that God is true to his 
word, and that Satan is not only a liar, but is the 
father of lies. 

It is not necessary to send for the elders for every 
affliction and disease that may come upon a person, 
for the instructions to such a one is, " Let him pray." 
Wait upon the Lord and he will heal your afflictions. 
If a person is really sick and cannot exercise faith, 
or has some chronic disease which his faith fails to 
reach, then let him call forthe elders and fully com- 
ply with the Word of God. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

WALKING OUT UPON HIS PROMISES. 

Now we have reached the point where our faith is 
to be tested; whether or not we are willing to trust 
the Lord and take him at his word, against all op- 
position, symptoms, feeling, temptations, etc. We 
come to genuine faith, that which reaches beyond 
human vision, and accepts the Word as true, leaving 
no room for doubt or failure. It is the point where 
we not only claim that which is our own, but we 
take possession of that claim. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. ug 

Suppose a man were to offer to sell a valuable 
watch for ten dollars, and you being in great need 
of one, speedily make the purchase by paying him 
the ten dollars. From that moment the watch is 
yours whether you reach out and take it or not. But 
it does you no good whatever as long as you do not 
take possession of it. Just so with the blessed treas- 
ures to be received from the rich treasure house of the 
Lord. He offers them upon conditions; we meet the 
conditions and have full right to the blessing, but it 
fails to do us any good unless we demand our rights, 
show our warrant and authority in. his word, and take 
possession of what belongs to us. Shortly after the 
Lord called me to work for him, I learned a very 
precious lesson on this line. There was much sick- 
ness in the community in which I lived; three of our 
family had been stricken down with fever, and pass- 
ed through a severe siege of sickness. I soon felt 
the disease taking hold upon me, but withstood it for 
several days, but was finally overpowered by the dis- 
ease, and after lying in bed a few hours with a burn- 
ing fever, and suffering the most excruciating pain, 
I began to earnestly commune with the Lord; and 
told him that he had called me to work that in my 
present condition I was unable to do. As there were 
no elders present upon whom I could call, I began 
to refer the Lord to many of his wonderful promises, 



120 DIVINE HEALING 

among which was John 15: 7, "If ye abide in me and 
my words abide in you, ask what ye will and it shall 
be done unto you." I searched my consecration, and 
asked the Lord to search me. I was willing to suf- 
fer if it was his will, but I longed to be about my 
V Master's business." I said, " Lord, I am abiding 
in thee and thy word abides in me, so the promise is 
mine. I give my case fully into thy hands, and I pray 
thee to heal me." Then I waited for the work to be 
done, but no change came. Finally I said, " Lord>^ 
why am I not healed?" The answer seemed to come 
at once: " Take the Lord at his word and arise." I 
said, " Amen, Lord, I will." And without hesitating 
a moment I began to get out of bed. It seemed as if 
my head would burst with pain, and in my weakness- 
I began to dress myself. When half dressed a slight 
change came over me, and dropping upon my knees 
I thanked the Lord for it. After dressing and ren- 
dering thanks again I was much better, and walked 
into another room declaring that the Lord had healed 
me Within twenty minutes the fever had entirely 
left me, and I immediately went to work, and was 
well from that hour. I am confident had I lain there 
and not moved out upon naked faith, I would have 
had to pass through a long siege of sickness. fo 
God be all the praise. It taught me a very valuable 
lesson of trusting him, and moving out upon his prom- 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 121 

ises, the remembrance of which has been of great 
benefit to me, and I tell of it only for the glory of 
God, hoping that others may be benefited by the 
same. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

RESISTING TEMPTATION. 



After having stepped out upon the promises of the 
Lord and taken him for our physician, it is then the 
business of the devil to throw out his temptations in 
in every way possible. If he cannot make us doubt 
our healing he will sometimes offer to help the mat- 
ter along a little by some of his suggestions. And 
then try to accuse and condemn the one who listens 
to and follows his advice. The Word says, " Resist 
the devil and he will flee from you." — James 4: 7. 
When the tempter comes we will find it an easy matter 
to resist him if we take into consideration the won- 
derful promises of God, and that he promises to 
deliver us out of the hands of the enemy at all times, 
and all we have to do is to trust Him and do his 
bidding, " Blessed is the man that endureth temp- 
tation: for when he is tried he shall receive the crown 
of lifewhich the Lord hath promised to them that 
love him." — James 1:12. " There hath no temptation 
taken you but such as is common to man: but God 
is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted 



122 DIVINE HEALING 

above that ye are able; but will with the temptation 
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to 
bear it." — I Cor. 10: 13. 

CHAPTER XX. 

RESISTING THE TRUTH. 

People often bring afflictions upon themselves 
through disobeying the laws of nature, but there are 
times when God in his wisdom sees fit to send his 
judgments upon rebellious persons such as resist the 
truth and bitterly persecute his children. Such was 
the case with those who came up against the prophet 
Elisha(2 Kings 6: 18), and they were smitten with 
blindness. 

Saul was smitten with blindness while he was 
breathing out threatenings against the saints of God. 
(Acts 9: 1-9.) 

Elymas the sorcerer received the same fate, and 
was blind for a season because he withstood Paul 
and Barnabas. 

A few years ago*a man in Southern Indiana had 
for some time been bitterly opposing God's true and 
faithful children, and one afternoon was suddenly 
siiiiUcn vvithblindness, and is yet in that condition. 

Such is the fate* of many who resist the truth of 
God, and persecute his faithful followers. All are 
not smitten with blindness, but are in other ways 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 123 

made to realize that the Lord is God, and that he is 
not to be mocked, and his truth resisted, without 
bringing a penalty upon the persecutors. 

: — 1 ■ ■ » ■ 

CHAPTER XXI. 

HINDRANCES TO HEALING. 

In seeking the Lord for the blessing of health, it 
is well to consider a few points, and first know 
whether or not it is his will to heal us, and see if we 
are consecrated to suffer just as long as he in his 
wisdom sees fit to permit us to be afflicted. When 
once satisfied that it is his will to restore us to 
health, find out when he promises to do it. Seek to 
know the cause, and remove the same, as far as 
lieth in your power. James says, " Confess your 
faults," etc., that ye may be healed. O how often 
people fail to be healed just because they do not 
follow this instruction; and by trying to cover up, 
and hide that which should be confessed, they fail 
to receive the desired blessing. It is when the Word 
is complied with that the Lord has promised to 
forgive the sins which have been the means of bring- 
ing on the disease. There are numberless obstacles 
in the way of healing, which may all be summed up 
in a few words and the matter settled at onee. First, 
find out the cause, if possible, and if caused by any 
wrong on your part, forsake the wrong, confess the 



124 DIVINE HEALING 

same to God, and if necessary to his children, then 
the prayer of faith can be offered with all confidence, 
knowing that he will grant the request. We are 
healed for the glory of God, and not to consume our 
strength upon the lusts of the flesh. Men sometimes 
apply for healing of dyspepsia, etc. caused by the 
use of tobacco, expecting to continue the filthy habit. 
Womemsuffering from some dreadful/trouble brought 
on by lacing and wearing of corsets, too often desire 
to be healed but are not willing to remove the cause. 
Persons practicing filthy habits, abusers of them- 
selves, etc., call on God to heal them and yet will 
not turn from that which makes themselves self- 
murderers. Is it any wonder that the world says faith 
healing is a failure? 

When people get in line with God just where he 
desires them to be, they will either be healed or God 
will receive glory through their sickness, and enable 
them to rejoice through it all, with the comforting 
words, " My grace is sufficient." 



CHAPTER XXII. 

CASTING OUT DEVILS. 



We read in the Bible that Christ and his apostles 
went about healing the sick, casting [out devils, etc., 
and in the last chapter of St. Mark he gives the same 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 125 

commission and power to " them that believe" upon 
his word. 

Some are really astonished to learn that devils are 
cast out in these days. It is no uncommon thing for 
God's true ministers to meet with persons who are 
possessed with evil spirits, and cast them out. We 
have witnessed cases doubtless as bad as any spoken 
of in the Bible, and been present when the devils 
were cast out. In one case the victim seemed to be 
possessed with legions of devils, but in answer to 
prayer and faith was delivered and set free before a 
public audience, and of the many sinners who wit- 
nessed the scene none could gainsay it. Some time 
ago a brother and myself were called upon to pray 
for a girl who had been having spasms very frequent- 
ly for some time. As soon as she saw us coming she 
declared she would not allow us to pray for her, and 
as we entered the house she ran from room to room 
despite her parents' admonitions, refusing to talk or 
be talked to. We at once saw that it was a clear case 
of devils, and while she was in an adjoining room we 
knelt in prayer and rebuked the devil and command- 
ed him to depart. As we arose from our knees she 
seemed like a different girl, and the devils having 
been cast out she desired us to pray for the healing 
of her body. Of the great number of people who 
are now in the insane u asylums, doubtless, most of 



126 DIVINE HEALING 

them are possessed with devils, and were the devils 
east out, such persons would be well and clothed in 
their right mind. 



^»«~< 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

SENIMNG ANOIMKD HANDKERCHIEFS. 

It sometimes happens that some of God's true 
children become sick and (eel it their duty to call 
upon the elders and be anointed for healing, but on 
account of living a great distance from any of the 
elders they are unable to send and have them come. 
In such eases where there is a special leading in that 
direction, it: is pleasing to the Lord for them to send 
for an anointed handkerchief. 

In Acts 19: 12 we read that " God wrought special 
miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body 
were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, 
and the diseases departed from them, and the evil 
spirits w ent out of them." 

Before sending for or sending a handkerchief. per- 
sons should positively know that they are being led 
by the Spirit of the Lord in the matter. 

Some time ago a sister in New York after a few- 
weeks' severe sickness sent for an anointed handker- 
chief, and upon receipt of it had it applied in the name 
oi Jesus, and she was enabled at once to arise from 
her bed and walk about the room praising God for 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 12? 

his wonderful healing power. A sister in California- 
was healed of cancer in the same way. We could 
relate a number of cases of wonderful healing in this 
way, but it is unnecessary to speak of it here. We 
frequently receive requests to send a handkerchief, 
and for various reasons do not feel led to send one. A 
person must have the proper faith, and not merely try 
an experiment, because it is a work for God, and is not 
to be trifled with by doubting Thomas's and skeptics. 
In cases of sickness where persons are thus isolated 
from the children of God, it is well to send to those 
who are strong in faith, requesting their special 
prayers at an appointed time, and God will honor the 
" prayer of faith" according to James 5: 16; Matt. 
18: 19; Jno. 15:7; 1 Jno. 5: 14, 15. Once a telegram 
came desiring us to pray immediately for a woman 
who was violently insane. All work was stopped 
and as we gathered together for prayer, and laid the 
case before the Lord, in a few minutes the message 
came from heaven that the work was done, and the 
room seemed filled with the glory of God. We 
believed without a doubt that she was delivered from 
her insanity; and as soon as the next mail arrived 
from that place, we received a letter stating that she 
was instantly delivered and healed. 

One night at the midnight hour a loud rap was 
heard at our door, and the messenger was a boy, who 



128 DIVINE HEALING 

had come with all possible haste, and asked us to 
pray at once for his father who was dying. We arose 
from our bed and earnestly called upon the Lord; 
and rebuked the disease in the name of Jesus; and 
when the boy reached home again he found his fath- 
er was healed of his disease and able to be up, and 
in a few days was perfectly well. 

These things are mentioned in this chapter only 
for the glory of God, and that his children may be 
strengthened in faith. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

SPIRITUALISM. 

One of the most deceptive and sure ways of leading 
souls to destruction and everlasting torment is that 
of spiritualism. On account of " the working of Satan 
with all power and signs and lying wonders," often 
under the pretense or garb of Christianity, spiritual- 
ism has been the means of leading many honest souls 
down to everlasting ruin. Some through curiosity, 
others for the purpose of knowing some hidden 
mysteries, enter the circle and witness the performance 
of " the spirits," who are " called up," and cause the 
tables, chairs, etc. to dance about the room; who tell 
something about some departed friend, or something 
of the kind, just enough to deceive^ souls B who are 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 129 

-simple enough, or through ignorance of the great 
danger, tamper with such works of the devil. 

The Word of God tells us that Satan can transform 
himself into an angel of light in order to better 
practice his deceptions. These spirits which they 
claim to call up are not by any means the spirits of 
some departed friends, but it is only the devil as an 
" angel of light," come to delude and deceive souls. 
Satan has power to "perform wonders in the sight of 
men," and under the name of spiritualism people are 
.sometimes healed of various diseases by the power 
of the devil. But O how appalling the consequences ! 
As a general thing the one healed becomes a believer 
in spiritualism, a disbeliever in Christ, and often pos- 
sessed with evil spirits. To become a spiritualistic 
medium is to sell your soul to the devil, become 
possessed with evil spirits, deny the saving power of 
Christ through his precious blood, deny the existence 
of a devil, or that there is such a place as hell. God 
deliver souls from such deceptions; from spiritual- 
ism and all its soul-deceiving ways! Let a person 
filled with the Holy Spirit go into their midst and 
rebuke the devil and all the powers of darkness in 
the name of Jesus and they are powerless. The 
'" departed spirits," as they call them, will not answer 
nor perform. Praise God! He has given us power 
over all devils and spirits of devils to cast them out. 



ijo DIVINE HEALING 

Blessed be his name forever! In the name of Jesus 
we warn every one to have no part nor lot in the 
belief or performances of spiritualism if you value 
your soul. And to those who are already in its clutches 
we would say, For your souls' sake renounce the 
deceptions of the devil, call upon God, and he will 
deliver you out of the snare of the enemy, and give 
you continual joy and peace to your souls. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE. 

Another one of the snares of the enemy of souls is 
that of Christian Science. It teaches that "sin is not 
forgiven; we cannot escape its penalty." — II, 165. 
The Bible says, " If we confess our sins he is faithful 
and just to forgive us our sins." — 1 Jno. 1 : 9. 

"Science decides matter or the mortal body to be 
nothing but a belief and an illusion." — 11, 193. Paul 
refutes such teaching in these words, " Let not sin 
therefore reign in your mortal body." — Rom. 6: 12. 
"He shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His 
Spirit that dwelleth in you." — Rom. 8: 2. 

These are only a few of the many direct contradic- 
tions between Christian Science and the Bible. Yet 
they make the healing of the body one of their spec- 
ialities, but do not do it in the name of Jesus, nor 
according to the Bible. Honest people often go to 



OF SOUL AND BODY. iji 

them for treatment and leave with a shattered mind 
and a blighted soul. The mind cure, hypnotism, 
mesmerism, electric power, etc. are other modes of 
cure which the devil makes use of to show his " signs 
and wonders," but are none of them used or needed 
in divine healing. The Lord speaks the word and 
the work is done, and all we have to do is to obey his 
word, fully trusting in his promises. It does not 
cost a person anything to know the secret of divine 
healing, because the whole thing is to be found in 
his word; neither does it cost anything to be healed, 
for the promise is, Believe and ye shall receive. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

WITNESSES SINGS THE APOSTLES. 

Noted and reliable historians and writers inform 
usofso many cases of divine healing, and miracles be- 
ing wrought since the days of the apostles that it is un- 
necessaryto give space in this volume for testimonies 
of what has taken place during the past centuries. But 
for the benefit of those wishing to further investigate 
the subject we would refer you to a few of the noted 
writers; such as Justin Martyr, Teitullian, Irenaeus, 
Origen, Clement, Milner, Mosheim; in whose works 
will be found proof that the time of miracles extend- 
ed down through the different centuries, and did not 
cease at the death of the apostles; verifying the 



ij2 DIVINE HEALING 

words oi Jesus: " He that believeth on me, the works 
that I do shall he do also," giving no limit of time, 
and making no provisions for a time to come when he 
would not fulfill his word. Among those whose 
fame lias become world-wide, on account of her 
power with God, and healing the sick through pray- 
er and faith, is Dorothea Trudel, who was born near 
the beginning of the nineteenth century, and lived 
in Zurich, . Switzerland. She was of humble birth, 
and passed through many privations in life, and as 
she advanced in years her faith became so strong in 

Lord, that she ventured to lay hands on the sick 
Him to heal them, and lie honored her 
faith and raised them up. In a short time her house 
was thronged with sick folks, and as many were 
healed., the medical pro I .- stirred 

they were l< stomers is . 

treating the sick without license, and was fined, and 
orde dismiss her ■ As they were dis- 

missed., her house was . filled with others. 

She that she us< i medicines and pre- 

vented no one from using medicines; that she knew 
nothing about diseases, but only knew that 
Savior could heal every sickness. 

he appealed to a higher court, which decided 
that there was no law to prevent any one from pray- 
ing and laying on hands for the healing of the sick; 



OF SOUL AND BODY. ijj 

so she was acquitted, and her accusers had all the 
costs to pay. During the trial many persons testified 
in favor of divine healing, and instead of the doctors 
putting a stop to the work, it spread a hundred fold 
more, and people came flocking from every direc- 
tion to find out something about the dealings of the 
Lord with his people. Since that time a number of 
faith homes have been established, both in this 
country and in foreign lands. 

There are people here in the United States who 
are just about as foolish as the doctors of Switzer- 
land were, who threaten to arrest any one who sees 
fit to trust themselves in the hands of God, instead 
of the hands of doctors. Yet not one of the doctors 
will insure a cure. Let them threaten! there is no 
law that requires a person to apply to any certain 
physician; and if any should see fit to apply to the 
Great Physician for healing, let them do so, despite 
the threatenings of all opposers; and if any one is 
sent to jail, God will receive the glory. 

When a person moves out upon the promises of 
God in obedience to his will, earnestly contending 
for the faith once delivered unto the saints, a work 
will be wrought which will result in delivering souls 
out of the hands of the enemy. Satan will be stirred, 
and foam out his wrath through his children, but 
God puts a wall of salvation about those who put 



W 



DIVINE HEALING 



their trust in him, which is a perfect protection from 
all the powers of the evil one; " For He shall give 
His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all 
thy ways." 

No one follows in the footsteps o( Jesus without 
passing through the fire of persecution. Many times 
God sees fit to permit sore afflictions to come upon 
persons in order to teach them lessons of obedience. 
But he has promised to deliver his children out of 
them all. To Him be all the praise ,\nd glory. Amen. 




WITNESSES OF TO-DAY. 

PART III. 
A W O M) E li F l^ L DELI Y E 11 A NCE. 

OR the benefit of suffering humanity, 
I will give my experience in regard to 
divine healing- of the body, in connec- 
tion with my experience of salvation, 
hoping to point others to Jesus, our 
life and our saving health among all 
nations. 

I was born Aug. 23, [853, in the state 
of Iowa. Three years later my parents 
settled in the state of Missouri, in the county of 
Pettis, two miles north-east of Windsor, where I 
remained until I was twenty-seven years o\ age. My 
years were almost an unbroken chain of suffering. 
Myself and God alone knew the extent of my afflic- 
tions, which began in my childhood. 

I had spasms from the time I wasjsix years of age, 
also dyspepsia set in near the same time, and in all 
my travels I have not witnessed a more severe case. 

*35 




ij6 DIVINE HEALING 

In a few years spinal affection added much pain to 
my afflicted body, and with many other diseases and 
weaknesses, was confined to my bed for months, at 
different times. All this combined with a stammer- 
ing tongue, made my life miserable. 

I was never able to do any hard work, not even a 
washing for myself, and the physicians gave me no- 
promise of future health. Many times I would weep 
and lament, and wonder why God had ever permit- 
ted me to live. My dear, good Christian mother 
would try to cheer me, and tell me that we should 
not question the ways of the Almighty, and that 
God had a bright design in all this. But that was a 
mystery which God alone could solve, and it failed 
to remove the sadness or the pain. 

All was dark, so dark to me, for I could not look 
out in the future with one bright hope. But in my 
nineteenth year, May 3, 1872, having repented of 
my sins, I received Jesus as my Savior, and his 
Spirit bore witness with my spirit, that I was a 
child of God. On the fourth day of the following 
month, I made a complete consecration for time and 
eternity, and was sanctified wholly. Since then I 
have been "perfecting in holiness,''* "growing in 
grace." 

Having been taught that the time of healing was 
past, I did not seek for it, but came to the conclu- 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 137 

sion that I was to be made perfect through suffering, 
as I knew of no one who had ever been healed, until 
the spring of 1880. My oldest brother being greatly 
afflicted with chronic diseases, was healed' in answer 
to prayer, without medicine, just by faith in the 
promises of the Word of God. I could not doubt it, 
but thought it was not for me. After some months 
God showed me that I had faith to be healed, and 
that I was responsible, and if I put in the rest of my 
life suffering, I did it by choice, and at the risk of 
my soul. I pondered over this matter for some 
days. On waking one morning I said to myself, " I 
am going to let the Lord heal me today if he will." 
Then the enemy whispered, You should put it off a 
week or two, as you have not quite enough faith yet 
to be healed, and by that time your faith will be 
strong. 

Next came the voice of Jesus, saying, "Oh! thou 
of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Then 
dropping on my knees, I cried: Lord, if it is unbe- 
lief, take it out, root and branch; and I knew he did. 
Then I said, Lord, what next? And he showed me 
that I should pour out my medicine. I did not 
know why. Then God revealed to me that I was 
going to be severely tempted, and if I had the med- 
icine I would be sure to take it, and lose faith for 
healing. So I poured out the medicine. God showed 



ijS DIVINE HEALING 

me that if I was to doubt his word that says, "Who 
healeth all thy diseases," "The prayer of faith shall 
save the sick," etc., I would not stop until I would 
reject it all; would die an infidel; be lost in hell, 
and be the means of scores of others being lost. I 
said to Mother, "If you ever prayed earnestly for 
me, pray for me now." So we bowed together in 
prayer. After she prayed, I began praying, and 
claimed the promise in Matt. 18: 19. 1 said, Lord, 
thou hast said: That if two shall agree on earth as 
touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be 
done unto them of my Father which is in heaven. 
Now, Lord, we are agreed that thou heal me, soul, 
body and mind, as complete as is most to thy glory. 
And as I said it I laid hold on the healing power, 
and the witness came from heaven that the work 
was done. I arose from my knees, saying, Mother, 
it is done; I am healed. I felt the virtue go through 
my body, and oh, the showers of heavenly grace 
that filled my soul! I began to praise the Lord, and 
shouted, giving God the glory. Oh, it was so heav- 
en!)'. " My soul was joyful in glory," for glory 
filled my soul. Then was fulfilled that which was 
spoken by the prophet Isaiah, saying: " Then shall 
the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the 
dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break 
out, and streams in the desert." Isa. 35: 6. 



OF SOUT. AND BODY ijg 

This was the beginning of a new era in my life. 
And I remarked that it was the beginning of months 
to me, as it was the first time in all my recollection 
that I could say I was well. It was the first bright 
hope of health that I ever had in this world. The 
same day I could eat and drink anything that was 
fit for a sound stomach, without the slightest injury, 
which I could never do before. 

That night the trial came. It seemed that all hell 
was let loose to try to beat me out of my healing 
faith, and bring back all my old chronic diseases. 
Had I not poured out my medicine, surely I would 
have yielded; but I clung to the promises of God, 
and rebuked the devil until nearly morning; so God 
fulfilled this promise, " Resist the devil, and he will 
flee from you." Then there was a great calm. It 
seemed almost like angels came and ministered unto 
me. "My joy was full; my cup ran over." My 
faith was strong and steady; my appetite good. I 
walked the floor for several days, with almost cease- 
less praises going up to God. 

It was circulated through the neighborhood that 
44 Mary Cole was having a whole camp-meeting by 
herself. She claimed that God had healed her, but 
it was only excitement, and as soon as the excite- 
ment was over she would be as bad off as ever." 



140 DIVINE HEALING 

My strength increased rapidly and I soon went to 
a protracted meeting held by the M. E's, as I was 
then a member of that sect. When opportunity 
was given for testimonies, I arose and told of God's 
wonderful dealing with me; how he had pardoned 
all my sins; made me his child, and afterwards 
sanctified me wholly; and had so recently healed 
my poor afflicted body. And I exhorted the peo- 
ple to get rid of their unbelief, and to move out for 
God on the Bible line. But the preacher came to 
talk to me about the matter, and said he did not 
doubt me being healed, but I must not testify to it, 
for it was too much light for the people, and I must 
keep still about it, etc. 

I then concluded that I would not testify any 
more to my healing. From that moment the flood- 
gate of hell was open. Gross darkness was upon 
me. The powers of hell were fast gathering to 
destroy both soul and body; my mind was almost 
reeling; intense suffering began in my body. O it 
was indescribable! God showed me that I had bro- 
ken my contract to please the blinded sect preacher; 
and that I must renew my contract with God, and 
resist the devil, obey God in all things and all would 
be well. So I did, and my soul was at liberty. My 
faith was again unwavering, and my strength in- 
creasing. A large scrofulous ulcer on my face was 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 141 

soon gone; my blood pure, and such warmth in my 
system, I had never felt before. It did not require 
one-half as much cover as usual to keep me warm. 

I stammer some yet, but nothing to what I did 
before I was healed. God made me to understand a 
few years before, that in the future I must go and 
preach his gospel. This was again made plain to me 
when I was healed on the fifteenth day of Novem- 
ber, 1880. 

He did not show me that I was to go yet; but to 
search and study the Bible. It was wonderful how 
the Holy Spirit did teach me, and open up my 
understanding to comprehend the Word of God. 

In the spring of 1882 the way was open for me to 
go out and work in the vineyard of the Lord, and 
he showed me that I must go. I could go and be 
saved, or stay and be lost. I was still a Methodist. 
They did not license a woman to preach. But the 
sect preachers found that God could use me in the 
salvation of souls, and that I was not specially inter- 
ested in building up any certain sect; so I had an 
abundance of calls. Sometimes I would preach 
twice a day during the week, and three times on 
Sunday, and also attend the altar services. God 
always gave me sufficient strength. After a few 
years all sectarian scales fell from my eyes. I as- 



142 DIVINE HEALING 

serted my liberty and have been preaching the pure 
Gospel on the New Testament line. 

I have had a few sick brashes since I was first 
healed. But God has healed me every time without 
resorting to doctors or medicine. I am well, soul 
and body, and can do washings, or hard work of any 
kind that God requires of me. I recommend my 
Savior as a Physician for soul and body. 

Mary Cole. 

Windsor. Mo. 



THEBUNl) EYES OPENED. 

With praise and thanksgiving to God Almighty, I 
write the following: I had been an invalid for nearly 
three years. My eyes soon became so weak and 
sensitive to the light that I was helpless, and had to 
be led about wherever 1 went. I had not read a line 
in three years, lacking one month. 

Nine months previous to my healing I was con 
verted to God. Two days after my conversion I 
was forcibly impressed that I would be healed. I 
did not know when or where, but I knew the work- 
would be done. 

In the month of June, 1883, I received an invita- 
tion to attend the annual camp-meeting at Bangor, 
Mich. I went to my room and inquired earnestly 
of the Lord if it was his will for. me to go, and if 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 143 

that was the place where lie would be pleased to 
heal me. Suddenly a brilliant light, like a flame of 
fire, encircled me, and the Lord assured me that I 
would be healed at that meeting. I told my friends 
what the Lord had showed me, and on making 
ready to go, requested them to provide me with 
paper and envelopes, telling them that when healed 
I would write to them. 

Continued prayer was offered in my behalf, and 
the laying on of hands. On the fourth morn of the 
meeting I was impressed that 1 would be healed 
that day. The same illumination was repeated, and 
I was filled with the glory of God. Heavenly breezes 
passed over me from time to time, until about five 
o'clock in the afternoon while seated with the con- 
gregation, on the platform where I had been request- 
ed to sit so that all might see, suddenly my eyes 
opened, and I gazed upon the audience, praising the 
Lord, to whom be glory forevermore. The people 
stood in amazement, some shouting, some trembling 
and crying. Many believed unto salvation when 
they saw the miracle. The loud shouts of the saints 
were heard over two miles. 

After we had praised God for an hour or more, I 
went out into the bright sunlight without any unpleas 
ant sensation, the first time for nearly three years ;also 
wrote two postals. Glory to God forever and ever! 



144 DIVINE HEALING 

My eyes were very much inflamed and granulated, 
but when the work was done the inflamed and gran- 
ulated condition left them, and they cleared away 
perfectly natural. They are bright and strong. I 
enjoy the unlimited use of them each day. I ac- 
knowledge the hand of a wise providence in my 
affliction, and thank God for it, for by this means he 
brought me unto himself. 

Before I was afflicted Iwas one of the most world- 
ly, but now I am wholly absorbed in divine things. 
Jesus is all and in all to me. It is like another world, 
both spiritually and physically. Glory to His name 
forever and ever! I will praise Him while I live. 

About one year afterward my faith was severely 
tested. Within a short time my eyelids became 
badly inflamed, and were very weak and sensitive, 
getting worse each clay. I did not know what to do. 
While in this condition, a sister who had passed 
through a similar experience, came to see me, and 
soon assured me that it was only a trial of my faith. 
We knelt together in prayer and asked the Lord to 
give me faith and strength to endure the trial, and 
when I had been tested sufficiently, to remove every 
symptom of disease. We claimed perfect victory, 
and I at once began my usual labor, and resumed 
my reading, which I had laid by for three days. As 
I ventured upon God and his promises, new strength 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 145 

Mras given, and my eyes were fully restored in every 
respect. I have had similar experiences in other 
forms of affliction, and have always found him faith- 
jful to his word. 

From a sister saved and kept by power divine. 

Emma Miller. 

Battle Creek, Mich. 

NINE YEARS AN INVALID. 

To all the Dear Readers and the Afflicted: 
.May God wonderfully bless and comfort you as you 
.read some of his dealings with me. I cannot enum- 
erate them all with pen and ink, but will attempt to 
give some truths as they have been manifested unto 
me for both soul and body. 

I was converted when sixteen years of age, and 
was married at the age of seventeen, in the year 
1873. In February, 1874, I was taken sick, and from 
.that time was a helpless invalid until July 18, 1883. 

When I was married I felt it my duty to have 
family worship, but as my husband was not a Chris- 
tian, I was timid, and put it off. thinking I should 
do so soon. But the burden kept growing heavier, 
for I realized the great importance of obeying every 
leading of the Spirit, but I knew but very little about 
how to make a real consecration of all things to 
•God at that time. 



146 DIVINE HEALING 

As I continued to suffer and grou weak. 1 thought 
much about the future, and the importance of being 

prepared to meet the blessed Lord who had suffered 
so much for one so unworthy as myself. Sometimes 
preachers would come to visit me, and 1 would hope 
that they would say something to give me light, as 
my poor soul was hungering after something, and 1 
knew not what to ask for. nor how to obtain it. 
None of them gave me any help in that direction. 

In the sprim; oi iSSi my husband thought he 
would take me to the Eureka Springs of Arkansas, 
to see if the water would do me any good, as he 
being a physician, had done all he and other physi- 
cians thought would be o\ any benefit to me. The 
waters, however, gave me no permanent relief. I 
felt a little better for a short time but soon became 
weaker than ever before, insomuch that tor six 
months at a time 1 was blind; and also lost my 
voice, and for some length of time was unable to 
speak above a whisper. Hut, oh, the glorious light 
that had begun to spring up in my soul during this 
time of seeking relief tor the body at the Springs! 

The dear Lord sent those to me who taught me 
that there was deliverance tor the captives, and how 
to set the prisoners free; ami that it was my privi- 
lege to be made whole both soul and bod\ . They 
showed me h\ the Word of God that consecration by 



OF SOUL AND HOP)'. i 47 

faith in Jesus, would bring about sanctification of 
the soul, and his cleansing blood would destroy the 
carnal mind which is enmity against God. Sec Rom. 
S: 7, ami also the scripture which teaches us to trust 
God tor the healing of the hotly. I had been taught 
that the day of healing was past; but when I would 
read the scripture, and sec that Cioo\ is no respecter oi 
persons; and that he is " the same yesterday, to 
day. and forever; " also how Jesus used to Ileal all 
who came unto him, 1 believed that he loved his 
people as much now as when he was here upon 
earth. Hut before I was healed my consecration 
had to reach the point where 1 was willing to do 
anything the Lord would have me o\o, and 1 was 
blessed in talking of the goodness of Jesus to every 
one who came to sec me. Oh! the bliss and constant 
peace oi my soul was more than 1 can find words to 
express. Instead oi the longings, and doubts and 
fears, there was a sweet communion which words 
fail to explain, but those who have found "The 
honey in the Rock." understand my meaning. 

1 often lay for several days at a time in a cold, 
prostrate condition, and almost a death-like perspir- 
ation upon my body and limbs. st> cold that they 
could not be warmed by friction or stimulants. 

1 felt a great desire to be baptized, and as I had 
learned to look to [esus to be guided by him in all 



148 DIVINE HEALING 

things, this scripture kept coming to my mind: 
Except ye be born of water, and of the Spirit, ye 
cannot enter into the kingdom of God. — J no. 3: 5. 

I felt led to have a holiness preacher to baptize 
me, but I was too weak to be taken out of my room; 
so they brought a bath-tub into my room, and I was 
baptized in it. Then I felt so anxious to partake of 
the Lord's supper, and the same preacher, with a 
few other Christians came and we had a glorious 
time commemorating the death of our dear Savior. 

We were living in Thayer, Kan., at the time of 
my healing. A little girl was feeding me my break- 
fast, and as I was taking some gfape-juice and bread, 
the words of 1 Cor. 11: 25, came to me, and I said: 
If thy will, accept it as in remembrance of thee, it 
shall be; and oh! such a witness of His holy presence 
came with such power. I realized the healing power 
was present to heal me. I said, The Lord has healed 
me! and I began to sing " It is done," and then said, 
What shall I do? The Spirit of the Lord said, Leap 
and rejoice. And again, Arise and walk. I told the 
little girl, who had been feeding me, to tell my hus- 
band to come in. When he came, I said, Doctor, I 
am healed; will you believe it? Let me up so I can 
walk. In the name and strength of Jesus I arose, 
but cannot describe the change; it was as if I had 
been carrying all I could possibly live under, and 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 149 

the load suddenly removed. The change was so 
great, and made me so light and free, that I felt 
just like running all over town. 

The day before I was healed I heard the noise of 
wings over me. This was repeated three times, and 
I did not understand what it meant, but as I was so 
near death's door, supposed that the Lord had sent 
for me. Shortly after I was healed I was one day 
reading my Bible, and read Malachi 4: 2: " But unto 
you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteous- 
ness arise with healing in his wings." This explained 
matters and made it all plain to me. 

After being healed, I felt impressed that in order 
to keep victory for my healing, I should have family 
worship three times a day; and thus let my light 
shine for the glory of God. I have since given birth 
to two children, and each time got up in as good 
health as before. 

With much love and sympathy to all the afflicted, 

I am resting upon the Solid Rock. 

Mary J. Sweeney. 
_ — n» ■ «■ ■ 

CORROBORATING TESTIMON Y. 

In regard to what my wife has written, I can say 
what she has stated are facts. She had been sick 
about six years before I took her to the Eureka 
Springs of Arkansas, with the hope that she would 
recover her health. 



150 DIVINE HEALING 

Her disease was a female trouble. She had anti- 
Auction and antiversion of the uterus, also mitritus, 
with ulcers at the os of the worst character. During 
the six years she was scarcely able at any time to 
be on her feet, or walk a step. 

I had a large practice at that time, but gave her 
all the attention I could. I perused several of the best 
works on Jinecology, such as West, Thomas, Monday 
and others, and consulted some of the best physi- 
cians, but we could not reach her case. 

We remained at the Springs, with no benefit from 
the water. We then came back to Thayer, Kan. 
and remained ten months until my wife was healed. 
During the ten months she seemed more prostrated 
than before. She was weak, debilitated and nervous, 
with quick intermitting pulse, cold perspiration, loss 
of vision to a great extent, and could not speak 
louder than a low whisper. 

At the time she was healed I was sitting in an 
adjoining room writing. When she sent for me to 
come into the room, as I entered I was utterly 
astonished, and most agreeably surprised when I 
found her sitting up in the bed. She reached out 
her hand and said, " Doctor, I am healed, I feel 
like I could walk all over town." She arose without 
assistance, and walked to a rocking chair in the room 
and sat down, rejoicing and praising the Lord. I 



OF SOUL AND BODY. i 5 i 

frankly confess, after witnessing the long, protracted 
complicated case, and then see her get right up in 
the midst of it, though an unsaved man, I was afraid 
to deny the healing power of God. 

Dr. R. E. Sweeney. 
Chanute, Kan., July 2Q, i8gi. 

PHYSICIANS BAFFLED FOR ELEVEN YEARS. 

Feeling that it would glorify God for me to write 
my testimony of healing, I willingly obey the lead- 
ings of his Spirit. I was bodily afflicted with female 
weakness which baffled the skill of physicians for 
over eleven years. I suffered a great deal at times 
and had to lie on my face for ease. The suffering 
whiclj I was compelled to endure no one can ever 
know, except those who pass through the same. It 
seemed as if I was doomed to live a miserable life 
the remainder of my days. 

The saints came here and preached the everlasting 
gospel. I accepted the light and was sanctified wholly. 
At first I was not willing to call for the elders and 
have them lay hands upon me, but thought I could 
pray and be healed myself, but God did not answer. 
I began to think I must go to some physician, yet I 
hated the thought of doctoring. A dear brother 
was here holding meeting, and I sent for him, and 
obeyed James 5: 14, and was healed through and 



152 DIVINE HEALING 

through. O praise the Lord! I am completely- 
healed, and can do my work and help my husband 
do his. 

I afterwards had the measles which seemed to 
settle on my lungs, leaving symptoms of serious lung 
trouble; but glory to his name! he has healed me of 
it all, and I am sound and well. I can never thank 
the Lord enough for what he has done for me. 

Your sister, sanctified to do the whole will of God. 

Alice M. Eberline. 



DELIVERANCE FROM DISOBEDIENCE. 

Dear Ones In Christ: I feel led to write and tell 
of the wonderful healing of my body wrought by the 
omnipotent power of God, according to James 5: 

13-15- 

Four years ago I was gloriously saved, and God 
called me to preach his word. I could not see why 
he should call such a poor, ignorant creature as I, 
and so I tried to believe that there was a mistake 
somewhere, and that I was not the one he wanted.. 
But God made me to understand that it was him who 
had spoken to me, and that I had to preach the gos- 
pel or perish. But I refused to obey God, and lost 
my salvation. 

Previous to this time I was a stout, hearty young 
man, but when I disobeyed the Lord he permitted 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 153 

disease to come upon me, and I was brought very 
low with consumption and hemorrhage of the lungs. 
I bled very frequently. So I thought I would rather 
die and get out of my misery. Ofttimes I would 
stretch myself upon my bed of sickness, fold my arms 
and ask God to let me die. But God would not let me 
go. I tried the different doctors and received some 
relief, but when I stopped taking their stimulants I was 
worse than ever. God still followed me, and I could 
hear him whisper, " You disobeyed me." O what 
torment I was in! I sought for relief in the foolish 
things of the world, but I could hear his voice there. 
I then joined the Ohio National Guards, but he fol- 
lowed me there, and my afflictions still increased, and 
the people said I was fast dying with consumption. 
I still thought I would seek death, and wished I could 
join the Standing Army, where I would have a chance 
to get shot down, and thereby get rid of all my 
troubles; but God had his eye upon me, and all my 
afflictions were becoming still greater. I started and 
got as far as Sidney, O. The saints were holding a 
grove meeting at that place, but I was determine.! 
not to attend, but was finally persuaded to go, and 
did so; thank the Lord! He so wonderfully con- 
victed me that I could no longer resist his loving 
Spirit, and as I yielded to his call he saved my soul. 
This was in the year 1889, and I began to work for 



S54 DIVINE HEALING 

tthe Lord, though my afflictions were very great, but 
♦God wonderfully helped me. In the spring of 1890 
I went in company with my brother to Hayden, Ind., 
r where I had a very severe attack of bleeding of the 
ilungs, and was unable to attend the meeting. The 
iriends with whom I was staying thought my time 
in this world was of short duration. I received 
strength to get to the home of my brother at Sidney, 
O., and there a relapse took place, and my suffering 
increased until I was compelled to keep my bed for 
•some time. While suffering there my soul was stirred 
insomuch that I cried out unto the Lord, and prom- 
ised him that if he would just raise me up out of my 
bed I would not shun to declare his word to the people. 
He answered my prayer. We had a meeting at our 
house; although I was so weak that I had to hold to 
•the stand to keep from falling while I spoke to the 
people, and God wonderfully helped me, yet I thought 
I could not be healed because I had brought my 
sufferings upon myself by my disobedience, and for 
.that reason would have to suffer it as a thorn in the 
flesho 

When I came to the camp-meeting at Bangor, 
Mich., I found that it was the will of God to heal 
me, and not his will that I should suffer any longer. 
:So I obeyed the Word in James 5: 13-15, and God 
hy his healing power touched my body, and I was 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 155 

made whole from that very hour. O wonderful phy- 
sician I have found in Jesus! 

I am now healed soul and body, and when it is 
necessary I can do as good a day's work in the harvest 
field as almost any man. I can truthfully testify to 
the glory of God that I have as good health as I ev- 
er had, and have salvation in addition to it. To sum 
up the whole matter, I am perfect, entire, wanting 
nothing; justified ,sanctified and healed by the power 
of God. 

Yours and Christs, 

Geo. W. Howard. 

Sidney, O., Aug. 2J, iSgi. 



HEALED, SOUL, BODY, AND EYES. 

Dear Saints and Lovers of the Truth: My 
heart is full of the love of God, and gratitude to my 
Savior for his wonderful saving, healing and keeping 
power. O it is so blessed and glorious to be saved 
of God, and saved from everything but God. And 
just as wonderful to be kept. For if we do not keep 
saved our having been saved will profit us nothing. 
Truly I have much for which to praise God. Seven 
years ago last June I attended the camp-meeting of 
the saints of God near Bangor, Mich. I went there 
with a sin-sick soul and a body wrecked with disease, 
and praise God! I returned home saved and sound. 



156 DIVINE HEALING 

About ten years previous to that time my eyes be- 
gan troubling me. The lids became granulated and 
inflamed. I was dress-making at that time. In order 
to spare my eyes for sewing I would refrain from read- 
ing, but growing worse, in about two years I was obliged 
to give up both. I did therefore, work for about 
two years, then having taken a cold that settled in 
my eyes and my whole body, it left my eyes so bad 
that I was compelled to keep them closed most of 
the time. From that time I was unable to work. I 
could walk about some, and use my eyes in a general 
way, but not to look steadily at anything. About 
three years later it was discovered that my afflictions 
were caused by internal organic displacement. I 
began receiving treatment from one of the promi- 
nent physicians of Battle Creek, Mich., where I 
then lived After the third treatment I was unable . 
to walk, and in a short time my arms became help- 
less. I was unable to comb my hair, or prepare the 
victuals on my plate, and so weak I could scarcely 
drag myself about the house. 

While in this wretched condition, my cousin, 
Emma Miller, was wonderfully healed of God at the 
Bangor camp-meeting. The same fall, her sister, 
Mrs. Courtney, was healed at the same place. I was 
too weak to attend that meeting, it being about sixty 
miles from my home. The next June was the time 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 157 

for the annual meeting, and I was not much if any- 
better; but I went in the name of the Lord, encour- 
aged by these words, "Whosoever will may come; " 
"Ask what ye will, and it shall be done; " and "These 
signs shall follow them that believe; they shall lay 
hands upon the sick, and they shall recover." These 
precious promises I claimed for mine. I resolved 
in my heart I would have a Bible salvation at any 
cost: which meant death to self, pride, worldly 
conformity, yea. death to everything contrary to God's 
word. 

The Lord enabled me to reach the camp-ground 
in safety. The dear saints made a bed for me beside 
the pulpit, and I lay there during the services, being 
too weak to sit up long at a time. I commenced 
seeking God with all my heart, and found him true 
to his word. He did pardon all my sins, and gave 
me a clear witness that I was accepted. Then I 
presented my body a living sacrifice, and died the 
death unto sin. This was no formal thing, but a 
real and awful death. A death so painful that it 
seemed that I should die literally, and God did 
sanctify my nature, my entire being. O praise 
the Lord! 

Then I felt I was in a condition to ask God to 
heal my body, which we did. With several others, 
I was anointed in the name of Jesus, and the elders' 



158 DIVINE HEALING 

hands were laid on us, with prayer for our healing, 
and God instantly healed my body. Praise his dear 
name forever! From that time I have been every 
whit made whole. Able to read, sew, and do house 
work. God is my strength and my Redeemer. He 
keeps me healed, soul and body, and I keep my 
healing just as I keep my salvation, by a constant 
trust and faith in God. I have been wonderfully 
tested at times regarding my healing. About two 
months after, I had worked quite hard one day and 
brought on my weak and bad feelings again. Then 
the enemy suggested that I had lost my healing. 
For some time I suffered in mind and body, not 
knowing just how to trust God over all these bad 
feelings. But God saw my trouble and sent me the 
needed counsel. Sister Courtney instructed me to 
still regard myself a well woman, and rest up from 
the effects of overworking. This was a good lesson 
to me, and I never forgot it. I was feeling so weak 
and bad it seemed I was unable to wash dishes. But 
I went to my room, knelt down before God and said, 
" Father, I know you have healed me, now I want 
you to retouch my body with the healing power, and 
increase my faith." Then I went to work in the 
name of Jesus, and my bad feelings all left me. 
Praise the Lord! After that when my eyes and 
body would feel bad, I pitched in and read and 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 15? 

worked the more, and I would look up and say 
M Father, I know I am healed, and when you see I 
am not afraid to trust you regardless of symptoms,, 
take the bad feelings away," and they would soon. 
go. So I have learned by experience how to trust 
God to keep me well, as well as to keep me saved.. 

I have been healed many times of different afflic- 
tions since my first healing. Once the Lord instantly 
raised me up from a very sick condition with the. 
measles. 

I have been working for God for nearly six years t . 
assisting in meetings night and day. Sometimes we. 
travel over land with conveyance sixty miles a day r , 
and God wonderfully strengthens me, so that I can. 
stand it about as well as the strongest persons. 

Praise the Lord! I enjoy good health now, God's, 
rich blessings in my soul, and complete victory over 
all the world, and the powers of evil, and I give God 
all the glory. 

35 Fountain St., Frankie Miller.. 

Batttle Creek, Mich. 



MOTHERHOOD. 

Believing it duty as well as privilege to acknowl- 
edge God's kindness in his dealings with me, and 
knowing mothers especially need encouragement to> 

cast all their care and burdens upon the Lord,, I give 
my experience in healing. 



160 DIVINE HEALING 

When I was converted, over nine years ago, a 
degree of faith for healing was given me, and my 
general health was much improved. But after a 
year had passed, very alarming symptoms of stom- 
ach trouble appeared. So intense was. the distress 
that I was obliged to sit up all the latter part of the 
night for a week. Having had no teaching on faith 
healing, I was soon consulting a physician, who 
said my case was severe, and I must take a course 
of treatment. This alarmed me more because my 
older brother had suffered intensely for several 
y :ars with the disease, making us think it an inher- 
ited trouble from our grandfather. So the medicine 
v. as procured and tested for several days, satisfac- 
torily for immediate relief. Placing the bottle on a 
window above the table, where as I worked my eyes 
would light upon it, and this conversation took 
place: " Do you belong to God?" "Yes, soul and 
body." " But as soon as your body is in trouble, 
you go to the devil — (wicked doctors) to make you 
well — is this wisdom? " " If your body belongs to 
God, why not let him care for it? " 

After this I could not bear to take the medicine, 
and even the sight of it was offensive; so I soon 
threw it away, that [ might not be tempted to take 
it when in distress. Several days after, while in 
distress, I walked the room trying to throw myself 



^^ 



OF SOUL AND BODY 161 

fully into God's hands for healing. But it seemed I 
grew worse, and symptoms of every disease I ever 
had filled my body so I was one mass of pains and 
aches. As the day was closing, I stepped before 
the window, and as I beheld the hills, this thought 
burst upon my mind and heart — It is easier for these 
hills to pass away than for God's word to fail. There- 
fore, it is done, my body is the Lord's, and he is 
able to keep all we entrust to him. No thoughts 
of feeling — but in a moment all distress was gone 
and I felt new, strong and active, and had a con- 
sciousness that my body was the Lord's, peculiarly 
pure, and thereafter dearer to me, as it was worthy 
of God's touch and care. My faith was afterward 
tried, but when I could rejoice in the trial, victory 
came very speedily. 

After I was sanctified my faith was much in- 
creased, and every trouble was then taken to the Lord. 
Then no wonder that shortly before motherhood's 
most trying hour, that divine help, strength and 
endurance should be sought for, and that our kind 
loving Lord should whisper, " 111 do better for you 
than you can ask or think." Or that the words of 
King David, in Psalms 22: 9, should be received 
with new power. Bless our God! who causeth us 
always to triumph But it w T as on the third day after 
deliverance that he made known how much better he 



162 DIVINE HEALING 

would do for me than I could think. All that morn- 
ing these words kept coming to my mind, and after 
reading the instance of healing in Matt. 9: 20-23, 
the real force of the words dawned upon my soul 
and I said, " I am healed; I can in the name of the 
Lord arise." As I spoke, my body was shaken as if 
it were a leaf, and the enemy said, "There! you 
are having a nervous chill." But I said, Get thee 
hence, Satan; this is the Lord's healing power. So 
at the first opportunity, with a little waiting upon, I 
arose, giving praise to God, walking the room with 
my " little blessing" in my arms; appeared at the 
supper table, much to the surprise of the head of 
the family, who had just returned from the field, but 
was perfectly satisfied when told that the Lord was. 
with us in healing power. 

The next morning I arose as usual, as it was wash 
day, and the work was crowded. Three beds were 
made, and three rooms swept, then a sponge cake 
and cup custards made for cold supper, and I was. 
washing the dinner dishes as a neighbor sister came 
to care for the little one. She was so surprised that 
all she could say was: "Well, it is all the Lord's 
doings, and is marvelous in our eyes." And we re- 
joiced together in his goodness. The blessing upon 
my soul was wonderful whenever I told my exper- 
ience of healing. Worldly wisdom shook her head 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 163 

and whispered, " You'll be sorry for this simple 
freak." But we rejoiced the more in the knowledge 
that our Lord had lifted us over three weeks of 
weakness, and had told us to be strong in him, and 
he never makes a mistake. 

Once more have we relied upon Him in this hour 
of greatest need, and again has he done better for 
me than I could "ask or think," healing me on the 
second day, giving me strength to do what in the 
eyes of the world was madness and folly; but bless 
the Lord, we do know it is good to trust in God, 
and know that he is able and willing to do much 
more for us as our faith increases. Dear sisters, may 
this little testimony of God's faithfulness and com- 
passion encourage every one to come boldly to the 
throne of grace to find help in every time of need. 
In the love of Jesus, 

Jennie C. Rutty. 

he heaeeth ouk diseases. 

Dear Saints and all the Afflicted Every- 
where: '' Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of 
God." — 1 Cor. 10: 31. It is my duty to testify to 
the wonderful power of God, through faith on our 
part, to heal our bodies of all diseases, that they may 
be pure temples for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 

After the Lord had pardoned my sins I consecrated 



i64 DIVINE HEALING 

all to him. He then tried me upon nearly all that my 
consecration covered. He asked me, as he did Abra- 
ham, to give up my only son, who was then about one 
year of age; his mother having died after having 
been treated by six doctors. After she died I sent 
him to Iowa to my brother. One day I received a 
message stating that baby had been given up by the 
doctor to die of catarrhal fever. I prayed that if it 
was the will of the Lord he would heal him, and 
received the answer then and there according to I 
Jno. 5:15. The next day I received a message which 
read: " Baby is out of danger." For the prayer of 
faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise 
him up. — James 5: 15 Later I sprained my wrist 
badly, but I sought unto the Lord, and not unto the 
physicians (2 Chron. 16: 12), and was healed. 

The face of our youngest boy had been a mass of 
sores for many months, caused by tetter. Yet the 
Lord, through faith in him, has taken it all away. 
For He said, " I will take sickness away from the 
midst otthee." — Ex. 23: 25. And he doeth all things 
"Well* 

Our eldest boy was troubled with worms, and we 
dosed him with pink-root and senna, all to no avail, 
never thinking that the Lord would heal such a 
simple disease. But after he had become very" weak 
wejDowed our heads in prayer for his recovery. And 






OF SOUL AND BODY. 165 

the Lord healed him, and he has never been troubled 
with worms s'n:e. " All things are possible to him 
that believeth." — Mark 9: 23. 

He healed my wife of weak back instantaneously, 
and said, " Thy faith hath made thee whole." — Luke 
8:48. He healed my mother of a very troublesome 
disease, after she had trusted in doctors to no avail. 
" But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their 
strength." — Psa. 40: 31. 

May all who read these testimonies bear in mind 
that the Lord has not forsaken the earth, and that 
the days of miracles are not past. But remember, 
dear people, that he who said, " Lo, I am with you 
alway, even unto the end of the world," is still in the 
midst of his peculiar people. Praise his name for- 
ever! 

Your brother, clothed and in his right mind. 

Jno. E. Roberts. 

Denver, Colo., 1945 Downing Ave., Aug. to, i8qi. 



TOUCHED WITH POWER DIVINE. 

Dear Readers: I believe it will be to the glory 
of God for me to tell of his wonderful healing power. 
My soul magnifies his great name for his mercy and 
goodness, not only for the healing of the body, but 
for healing my sin-sick soul, which was in darkness 
and despair. He has delivered my soul from the 



166 DIVINE HEALING 

power of Satan, and brought me into His marvelous 
light by the application of the precious blood of the 
Son of God. I am saved and sanctified by a second 
work of grace; fully saved from inbred depravity by 
his mighty Spirit of power. Praise God! 

When my body was healed I was all given up to 
God. On the 27th day of August, 1887, I was taken 
sick with chills and fever; also other diseases set in 
at an alarming rate. Those who cared for me realiz- 
ed that I needed as much attention at night as in the 
day-time. My strength had so completely left me 
that it seemed that I would never be able to speak 
to any one who came into the room. I would breathe 
a prayer for the Lord God to help me before I could 
utter a syllable. And so utterly helpless had I be- 
come with regard to using my arms and hands that 
I entreated God from time to time to help me to 
move them. • I was in a perfectly helpless condition 
most of the time. 

During the first two weeks of my illness a dear 
sister in Christ administered to my wants in the 
meekness of Jesus, and urged me to have hands laid 
on me for my healing. One of the brethren who has 
the gift of healing was sent for, -and they laid on 
hands and I was greatly relieved. Praise God! A 
few days later a minister came and laid on hands for 
my recovery, and yet the Lord did not seem to 



OF SOUL AND BODY, 167 

answer prayer for my immediate recovery. I was at 
the home of the sister who was caring for me, who 
lived at Kendall, Mich. And the Lord showed me 
it was his will for me to return to my home in Battle 
Creek, which was a number of miles away, and a trip 
to be taken by railway. But the Lord greatly in- 
creased our faith, and by parental aid I returned 
home. 

Shortly after my arrival a physician was called 
without my knowledge of it until he came into the 
house. He soon saw that I had no desire to take 
medicine, and soon went away. I did not improve 
any, and the third day another one came. The devil 
made me think that I ought to take medicine, and I 
took two doses to please my parents. But God visited 
me in a wonderful manner, and impressed me to take 
no more; and if I would trust him he would complete 
the healing. The next time the physician came I 
told him that I was all on the altar, and I would take 
the Lord for my physician, and he said that " the 
soul is on the altar, but the body is not." And God 
impressed me to look at Rom. 12: 1: — " I beseech 
you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that ye 
present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable 
unto God, which is your reasonable service." These 
blessed words are a direct contradiction to his state- 
ment. I saw he was unskillful in the scriptures and 



1 68 DIVINE HEALING 

did not feel led to say much to him. He was indignant 
when told that I could take no more of his medicine; 
and said he would come the next morning and inject 
it under the skin, which would be very painful for 
me. But God in his wonderful wisdom prevented 
his calling on me again. I did not improve any, but 
continued to pray to the Lord to heal me, until one 
day I heard a voice from heaven say, " Get up." I 
realized my critical condition, how utterly helpless 
I was, and could not rise. Although I believed the 
Lord saved me to the uttermost; and yet did not 
give up praying for him to give me the healing faith 
and to heal me. 

All during my illness it was my earnest desire to 
know that God did the work of healing all himseif, 
which I was confident he was able to do, for all things 
are possible with God. 

While praying with intense earnestness some time 
afterward, I heard the same voice from heaven speak 
to me, " Get up." And yet I continued to look at 
awful condition, which was perfect helplessness. A 
day later one afternoon towards evening when my 
suffering was greater than I had ever experienced in 
my life, I gave up all hope of living any longer, and 
told my mother that I was ready to go home. Praise 
God! I was ready. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. i6g 

But within an hour from this time I heard the same 
still small voice from heaven speak to me for the 
third and last time, " Get up." 

I immediately arose from my bed and walked. I 
was touched with power divine — the real healing- 
power of God. Praise his great name forever! The 
work was done in a moment. 

Then came the trial of my faith. Praise God for 
the trials! I well remember one day while walking 
that I became so very weak that it seemed almost 
impossible for me to take another step. But I heard 
a voice from heaven say, " Claim it." And I imme- 
diately claimed the healing power of God, and my 
strength was increased. Praise his name! 

At another time symptoms of chills came upon 
me at such a rate that my teeth began to chatter, and 
I was unable to control myself. But the Lord assured 
me that it was his will for me to claim the healing 
power, which I did, and God gave me the victory in 
my soul. And so he led me from victory to victory 
until the enemy was completely defeated. His 
blessed word assures us that the trial of our faith is 
more precious than gold. Blessed be his name! 

Yours in him. 

May Smith. 
Battle Creek, Mich., No. 27 North Ave., Sept. 15,1891* 



i 7 o DIVINE HEALING 

A TEIAL OF FAITH. 

For the glory of God, and to encourage the afflicted 
I write the following: My health failed me very 
mysteriously, and I suffered from a continued decline 
year after year, until my disease — which was internal 
— became chronic, and after five years my eyes failed 
me in sympathy with a general nerve weakness, and 
though not blind or entirely helpless, yet I was not 
able to read a page, or sew a yard of cloth for nearly 
ten years. I was shut out from the world, as it were, 
until the time promised when God should pour out 
his Spirit upon all flesh, and set the captives free. 

Seven years ago I heard of a people called the 
saints, " who went up to the feast" yearly at Bangor, 
to worship God in the good old way; and that God 
was saying to the remnant of the camp of Israel in 
these latter days: " Go forward," for from henceforth 
" I will be in the midst of thee." I heard of mighty 
w 7 orks being wrought through the name of the holy 
child Jesus, and I said in my soul, " If God permits 
I will touch the hem of his garment and be made 
whole." Another meeting three months later found 
me at the same place where I presented myself for 
the healing of my eyes. God had a second work in 
view, and because of this, and for my good, he per- 
mitted me to come especially with desire for the 
healing of my eyes at this time. I had suffered 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 171 

more with my eyes than otherwise for a long time, 
and had been obliged to rest my body, until I fancied 
that with their recovery I would feel quite well. God 
heard and answered prayer, and with the laying on 
of hands in the name of the Lord, in the instant of 
the exercise of faith, I reached for a fine print Bible 
which was lying near me, and read nearly two chapters 
without harm. 

Praises be unto God forever and ever! I returned 
to my Northern home, and began to undertake the 
demands of the same, when within one week I began 
to realize the original disease was being aggravated 
with my effort to labor, and that I needed an entire 
healing. I was two hundred miles from any one I 
knew who had a living faith. And as my condition 
became worse and worse I cried mightily to God to 
deliver me from all infirmity. I tried to pray be- 
lievingly, but when an ache or a pain followed I 
thought, Surely God has not healed me or I would 
not feel so. Several weeks passed, when at a time 
of much suffering, I was led to set apart a time for 
fasting, the same as they did at Bangor. I asked 
God to reveal to me what was lacking on my part, 
and while waiting thus before him I was led to take 
up a Gospel Trumpet which I had not read. My 
eyes first rested upon the experience of a sister who 
had been healed of the same disease. She said that 



ij2 DIVINE HEALING 

when hands were laid upon her for healing she was 
in great pain, and afterwards she was still in pain, 
but according to God's word she was healed. He 
gave her strength to get up and go about, and as 
she continued to believe, strength was given, and 
the pain passed away. She said at one time she was 
again in pain, and she asked the Lord why it was. 
He showed her that it was not the old disease, but 
only a test of her faith. Also at another time when 
a sense of weariness came on without cause, that it 
was not the old disease, but only a test of her faith, 
all of which passed away when her faith was lifted 
above her feelings. And that we must not ask God 
to heal us and then "wait to see," but "get up," and 
do as if we had what we have asked for. 

All this was like a message from heaven to me. 
My prayer was answered. I read the same twice 
over, and then fell upon my knees with my paper in 
my hand, and asked God to touch me with his heal- 
ing power, and make me every whit whole. I claimed 
what I had asked for, and arose declaring within 
myself that I was healed, with no other evidence 
than God's word. That was enough, and I was in- 
deed made whole from that hour. I expected to be 
tested in some way, as this sister had been, but 
having gained a knowledge concerning physical 
temptations, I felt that I was fully armed for the 






OF SOUL AND BODY. iy 3 

conflict, and with the armor of faith I should win 
the battle. 

The dear Lord permitted me to soar along in my 
happy freedom for six weeks without an ache or a 
pain; when suddenly, while preparing a testimony 
of my healing for publication, I felt a sharp pain in 
my brain, which had formerly been in a state of 
congestion much of the time in the years past. Oh 
how natural it felt! and soon another throb came on 
the other side. Just then the Spirit reminded me of 
the lesson I had learned on physical temptations, 
and I looked up and said within myself, Father, 
I'm healed. Test me and try me all I have need, 
but give me strength to continue my labor, and 
when I am tested enough, deliver me from every 
symptom of disease. 

I was not doing more than was reasonable for a 
well person to do, so I guaged my ability on the 
line of perfect health. Had I laid aside my writing, 
or flinched in the least in that hour, I should have 
been overcome again. But praise God! I gloried 
in the discipline which he led me through, and 
gained a wonderful victory in both soul and body. 

Several months after this I was writing a letter, 
when suddenly I felt a pain in one of my eyes. In 
an instant I was reminded again that another trial 
was at hand. The pain came again and again; and 



174 DIVINE HEALING 

as before, I looked up and said, " Father, I'm healed; 
test me and try me all I have need, only give me 
strength in these eyes to continue my writing and 
whatever is needful for me to do." I kept on writing 
for a half hour or so, when I had to lay it by to get 
supper, after which I was about to resume the same, 
when the enemy suggested like this: " It has grown 
dark since you left your writing, and it would be 
presumption for one to try to write by " lamp light," 
with pains passing through their eyes, as yours are." 
I said to myself, I am perfectly well. Yes, "every 
whit made whole," and it is for me to do as well 
people do; help me, Lord, to triumph in this trial. 
I continued my writing as long as I desired, giving 
no heed to the pains which came now and then, 
only in prayerful uplifting for strength to endure all 
that should be permitted to come upon me. During 
the night I felt the pain two or three times. 

On rising in the morning a tear flowed from one 
eye as though it were quite v r eak, but I committed 
them to God, and went about my work as though 
nothing was the matter, and the pain and weakness 
all passed away, so that I really forgot it while ab- 
sorbed in my work, until afternoon, when I was 
reminded of my former condition. Praise God! it 
was a glorious victory, and a blessing to my soul 
and body also. I have been afflicted in various ways 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 17s 

at certain times during the years which have passed 
by, but God has been my physician and my constant 
deliverer from all the powers of the enemy. And I 
will ever praise his precious name for what he has 
done for me. 

A sister in Christ. 

Mrs. J. E. Courtney. 

Bay View, Mich. 



MAEVELOl'S HEALING OF THE SOUL. 

Feeling it a great privilege as well as a duty I 
owe to God, and believing it another opportunity 
the Lord has given me to glorify him, to testify to 
his wonderful power to save and heal, resting as- 
sured it is his will, as I was so deeply impressed^by 
the Spirit to add my testimony with the many others 
that will fill these pages, permit me to say, although 
others of his children may have had as rich an ex- 
perience, none have ever received a richer than I, or 
been more wonderfully blessed, both soul and body. 

I was an invalid for fifteen long years; and suf- 
fered during that time with untold sufferings. Being 
ignorant of God's power to heal the body, I, of 
course, was brought under the care of earthly physi- 
cians, who did all in their power to relieve me, but 
all to no avail. 



176 DIVINE HEALING 

I spent over three thousand dollars trying to find 
relief, and at last was much worse than when I be- 
gan. Everything was done that a loving mother's 
heart and hand could plan. I was sent to the Cleve- 
land Water Cure, also to the Surgical Institute at 
Indianapolis, and there braced from head to foot in 
steel, hoping to take away the pressure of my spine, 
which had become so inflamed I could not raise my 
head, besides placing myself under the care of all 
physicians within reach of home. 

At last through the providence of God I was led 
to go to Michigan as a last resort, hoping the cli- 
mate might prove beneficial, but the Lord had 
another way of bringing back life to this almost 
dead body. Instead of gaining, I grew worse and 
worse, and when I had been in Petoskey one year 
and two months, the dear Lord had compassion 
upon me, and in my extreme helplessness manifest- 
ed his power and raised me from the bed upon 
which I was dying. My friends were watching to 
see the last breath, and all earthly hope was gone. 

If any one has ever doubted the power and will- 
ingness of God to heal the body, I can assure them 
if they had ever passed through my experience, 
they could never doubt it again. I take the liberty 
to say: Divine healing is a reality, and the Lord is 
willing to heal those who believe. 



OF SOUL AND BODY 177 

I was healed on the 28th day of July, 1883, at 
IPetoskey, Mich., over six hundred miles from my 
home. It would take a book to tell all the wonder- 
ful things the Lord has done for me, and the bless- 
ed way in which he has led me. It seems I must 
have been a very stubborn child, for I had to be 
torn all to pieces, as it were, before I could take the 
Lord as my healer. 

Seven physicians had given me up as a hopeless 
.case, and the dear Lord showed me there was no 
hope except in him. Many, many times he would 
.speak these words . to me over my bed: "Trust in 
the Lord, all else will fail;" and "If thou wouldst 
believe, thou shouldst see the glory of God. "He also 
gave me many promises from his word, through his 
Holy Spirit, to encourage and strengthen my faith 
When the divine touch came, I arose from my bed, 
dressed myself, and as I began to walk — which I 
had not done for all those years — how forcibly these 
words came to me, and seemed to be stamped in 
large gold letters on my heart: "Fear thou not, for 
I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God. 
I will help thee, I will strengthen thee; yea I will 
uphold thee with the right hand of my righteous- 
ness." And the fourth day after I was healed, as I 
was going to take a short journey, and feeling my 
,need of divine help, these words were again given 



178 DIVINE HEALING 

me: "Have not I commanded thee? be strong, and: 
of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dis- 
mayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee whither- 
soever thou goest." O how good the Lord has- 
been to me! 

You ask what was the disease? It was very com- 
plicated internal disease, with spinal irritation, with 
extreme nervous prostration, so that for years I 
could bear no company, not even my own folks, 
only those who had to administer to my daily wants; 
and could not bear the sound of a voice or any 
noise, without causing me to become wild, and 
could not control myself. My stomach -could not 
take the most simple article of diet without intense: 
pain. I was so low that I could eat only with a 
teaspoon, and had not eaten a meal at my mother's, 
table for eleven years, until the Lord healed me. 

It is now eight years since the Lord healed my 
body, and I have not taken any medicine in all that 
time, and today He gives me strength to fulfill my 
household duties and care for my aged mother, who 
so faithfully cared and labored for me through 
those long, weary years. 

I bless God today for all my affliction, assured 
that it has given me a home in heaven. I can say 
with the Psalmist David: " I know, O Lord, that thy 
judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. i 7 g 

hast afflicted me." And also, "It was good for me 
that I have been afflicted;" I know now that my will 
is His will. O how sweet are all our Father's ways 
when we are swallowed up in the boundless love of 
Christ! It would be needless to tell you that I 
am happy. 

Although the Lord has done such great things 
for my body, it is as nothing compared to the work 
he has done for my soul. As the prophet Malachi 
puts it: "The Lord opened the windows of heaven 
to my soul, and poured down a blessing that I was 
not able to contain." Praise God! that fountain is 
still flowing. He has given me the joys of salva- 
tion, and made me to rejoice with joy unspeakable 
and full of glory. One year and a half after the 
Lord healed my body, I was again led back to Mich- 
igan through divine guidance. Although converted 
at the age of sixteen, yet I felt a lack in my soul, 
and a great desire to be wholly the Lord's. I con- 
secrated my all to God, and received the blessing of 
holiness. O the heights and depths of God's love I 
enjoyed! For eight long months I seemed to be 
lifted out of this world, and soaring in the atmos- 
phere of heaven. My soul exulted in the thought 
of heaven, and the boundless love of Christ. Truly 
I had a foretaste of heavenly bliss. I could realize 



iSo DIVINE HEALING 

tne language of Christ — John 17: 16: "They are not 
of the world even as I am not of the world." The 
Lord has truly led me in ways I knew not. He has 
given me such beautiful visions. I will tell of one, 
for the glory of God. 

While singing a song, " Pearly Gates," I became 
anxious to know if the gate of heaven was open for 
me. That evening while in prayer, and my earthly 
eyes closed, the dear Lord opened my spiritual eyes 
and showed me a beautiful green path, so very nar- 
row, with hills on either side, disclosing all earthly 
things from view, commencing on the earth with a 
gradual ascent, until in the distance it seemed to 
reach heaven. And at the end of that path I could 
see a large gate thrown wide open, and the Savior 
standing with open arms to receive me. Praise God! 
I could say then I knew the gate of heaven was 
open for me. It was a glorious scene. 

The Lord continues to bless me and fill me with 
his love, and feed my soul with food from his own 
table, and enables me to comprehend more and 
more the wonderful provisions of his grace, and 
condescension of his children. I am lost in wonder, 
love and praise when I contemplate the marvelous 
provision the Lord has made for his own in both 
temporal and spiritual things, and in preparing us a 
mansion in the realms of glory. He has even taken 



OF SOUL AND BODY 181 

the very principles of heaven and formed out of it 
an immortal soul, and placed it within these temples 
of his, to live in here upon earth, and glorify his 
own name. How much it means to be a follower of 
the meek and lowly Jesus! I have by the grace of 
God, given up all to follow him. The world has no 
longer any charms for me since Jesus has been re- 
vealed to my heart. Although I am unknown to the 
world, yet I am well known to him. 

Again can I utter the words of David: "I am a 
wonder unto many, but God is my strong refuge." I 
find solid comfort in reading God's word. How its 
pages have been illumined by his Holy Spirit! How 
precious all the promises, and what peace and rest 
they bring to those who take them for their own! It 
seems to me there is comfort enough in two or 
three to satisfy every longing soul, and lull it to 
rest. For instance: " Come unto me, all ye that labor 
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "Cast 
all your care upon him, for he careth for thee." "I 
will never leave thee, nor forsake thee;" and, "Thou 
wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed 
on thee " 

How rich and full these words are to every child 
of God. I do thank the Lord that he has made me 
free to enjoy him here, with the sweet assurance in 
my heart, of life eternal with him on high. It is 



j 82 DIVINE HEALING 

delightful to know we are destined to live forever, 
and that natural death is the e;ate to endless life 
and life is secured to us by virtue of our relation to 
him who is eternal. " Because I live ye shall live 
also." May the Lord bless these words to the good 
of all who read and use them for his glory. 

Yours redeemed by the blood, and happy in a 
Savior's love. 

Mary R. Malcomson. 

Vevay, Ind., July 25, i8gi. 



THE FAMILY PHYSICIAN. 

In the month of August, 1884, we received the 
light of holiness, through the Gospel Trumpet, and 
a holiness teacher who came into our neighborhood. 
And we heard of a people that the signs follow, as 
we read of in James 5, and Mark 16. Our first 
experience in the healing power was a few months 
after we were wholly sanctified. Our little boy who 
was about a year and a half of age, one night was 
suddenly taken with the croup, and awakened us 
with his struggles to get his breath. But instead of 
using medicines, or an earthly physician, we did not 
so much as light a lamp, or get out of bed, but took 
his case to the Lord in silent prayer, and before we 
got through praying for him, his struggles for 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 183 

"breath all stopped, and the child was well and went 
to sleep. 

Oh how near the dear Lord did seem to us that 
night! It was wonderful! How it increased our 
faith in the mighty power of God! At that time we 
had about twenty-five different kinds of medicine in 
the house, but after that my wife emptied all her 
medicines on the ground, and the Lord has been 
our physician ever since. 

In the year 1885 we had the blessed privilege of 
attending the Bangor camp-meeting, and my wife 
was healed of diseases which she had had for twen- 
ty-two years, and which had baffled the skill of all 
the best doctors we could hear of and consult. 
Praise the Lord! It would take too much space to 
tell of all the cases of healing in our family which 
the Lord has performed. He is our constant family 
physician, and a very present help in time of trouble. 

Your wholly saved brother, made white and tried. 

William Stowell. 

Coopersville, Mich, Sept. 10, i8gi. 



HEALED OF RHEUMATISM AND A STIFF JOINT, 

There are a great many persons who do not be- 
lieve in faith healing in these days, as taught in the 
Word of God, and in fact I never believed much in 
it until I saw the power of God manifested in heal- 



184 DIVINE HEALING 

ing the sick and then found it was according to his; 
word. Now I know of a truth that God does mani- 
fest his power in these days in healing the sick, for 
I have not only seen others made well through faith 
in him, but have myself received the divine touch 
which swept all disease from my body. A little 
over a year ago I was attacked with La Grippe, and 
after being sick four days, pneumonia set in, fol- 
lowed by inflammatory rheumatism. 

For about two months my fingers, arms, lower 
limbs and neck were drawn up in such a manner 
that I could not during that time get off the bed 
only as lifted. At times I could straighten myself 
for awhile. This turned to muscular rheumatism, 
with shooting pains from joint to joint. From my 
first sickness my left hip became stiff, and the 
cords of my left leg became so contracted that one 
leg was shorter than the other. My kidneys became 
affected during my sickness, also my lungs were so 
bad that the doctor said I had the consumption. 
Four or five doctors waited upon me from time to 
time. Soon all medicine failed. O the pain and 
suffering I passed through and had to endure, can- 
not be told! 

But the suffering of my body was not all. I had 
a sin-sick soul, and knew that if I died it would be 
in my sins; yet I knew God was able to save alj 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 185 

who would come unto him. I knew no medicine 
would cure me. I knew of a lady in South Haven 
whom the Lord had instantaneously healed while she 
was lying at the point of death with consumption. 
I felt that if the Lord would heal one person, he 
surely would heal others. But I was not in a condi- 
tion to be healed, as my soul was not saved. Know- 
ing of the sickness of this woman, and how near the 
door of death she was, and how wonderful was her 
deliverance, I began to take courage, and felt like 
trusting God, and the Lord soon permitted me to 
improve some in health, yet I was a great sufferer. 

In February, 1891, I was visiting some friends for 
a few days, after which I started for my home in 
Pine Grove. As I passed the Trumpet office in 
Grand Junction, something seemed to tell me to go 
in; and in my weakness I started staggering along, 
and as I entered I met the busy workers of the 
Lord, and soon made known my errand. They told 
me the first thing was to get salvation and then the 
Lord would heal me. All work was stopped, and as 
they gathered in a small room, in a very few minutes 
the Lord pardoned my sins. I was then instructed 
regarding going on unto perfection, as taught in the 
Word of God; and if I could not exercise proper 
faith to be healed, come back when the Lord led. 
From that moment I began to amend. 



*86 DIVINE HEALING 

In about three weeks I returned to the office, and 
there in an upper room, in the presence of two or 
three brethren the Lord sanctified my soul, and then 
I obeyed James 5: 14, 15, and was anointed, and the 
Lord healed my body and I returned home and 
went to work knowing the Lord had done the work 
of healing. 

Several weeks after, some pains began to come 
upon me — as I was a night watchman, and exposed 
to the night air so much — and thus the enemy of 
my soul tried to get me to doubt my healing. I 
again called upon the brethren and was anointed, 
and the Lord witnessed the healing. After returning 
home the Lord brought to my mind that I had 
three or four bottles of medicine which I was not 
using, but had put away in case of an emergency. 
And I do not doubt but that was why the symptoms 
came back. The Lord wanted me to throw it away 
and take him alone, as his grace is an all-sufficiency 
in every emergency. Glory to God! it was destroyed, 
and ever since I have had good health and have 
been able to do a good day's work. My left limb is 
now as long as the other one, and my hip is well. I 
spent about all I had, and went in debt nearly one 
hundred dollars for doctor bills. The Lord gave his 
treatment without money and without price, yet he 



OF SOUL AND BODY. i8j 

required me to consecrate to do his will in all things. 

Jacob Gruber. 
Pine Grove, Mich., June 17, i8gi. 

.^ , ^ 

A CRUSHED ARM HEALED. 

It is a blessed privilege for me to testify to the 
mighty saving power of God. Oh! I am praising 
him for the sweetness and completeness I find in his 
love. Over four years ago the Lord convicted me 
of my lost and undone condition, and showed me 
that I must spend eternity with God, or spend it 
with all the wicked in the regions of the lost world. 
Before I came to God I could not rest, day nor 
night. I felt miserable on account of my sins, and 
fell upon my knees and cried, " God be merciful to 
me a sinner," and promised him that I would serve 
him all the days of my life. And when I repented 
of my sins he forgave them all. For the first time in 
my life I could say I was the Lord's child. The next 
night I came to the Lord and " presented my body 
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God," which 
was my reasonable service, and the Lord sanctified 
me wholly. Oh! the joy I felt no tongue can tell. 
I was wholly the Lord's and he was mine. 

I was the only one of our family that was saved, 
so I was tried and persecuted at home, but Jesus was 
my helper, and in him I put my trust, and realized 
his grace was sufficient at all times. 



188 DIVINE HEALING 

I also felt the call to go and work for Jesus. We 
read in the Word of God that he has chosen the 
weak things of this world to confound the mighty. 
I knew the hand of God was upon me to go forth 
and warn sinners to flee the wrath to come, and he 
gave me a willingness to leave friends and home and 
work in the vineyard of the Lord. For the last two 
years I have been out upon the battle-field of the 
Lord, rescuing perishing souls, and he has supplied 
all my needs, both spiritually and temporally. And 
I can also testify to his mighty healing power. I 
used to be afflicted very much, but when the Lord 
saved me he showed me that all things are possible 
with God. He is able to heal both soul and body. 
Since being out in the work of the Lord I have met 
with some accidents, one of which I will mention. 

Last winter, a year ago, at Windsor, Mo., while 
riding in a wagon, it was upset off the end of a 
bridge, and we all fell several feet with the wagon 
upon us. My head was hurt very bad, and my right 
arm crushed, and I was helpless. They carried me 
into the house, and my sufferings were so great that 
I thought I would die. I had two hard chills. The 
dear saints called upon the Lord, and laid hands on 
my head, and the Lord healed my head, and gave 
me faith for the healing of my crushed arm. That 
very night the Lord touched my body with his 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 189 

mighty healing power, and I was healed. I used to 
think God could heal all but broken bones, but now 
I know he can even do that; for his power on that 
line has been tested in my case. I have testified to 
hundreds of people, of this mighty healing power, 
although some will not believe. God knows I testify 
only for his glory. Some would even come to me 
and tell me that if I would say my arm was only 
hurt, and not crushed, more would believe it. Well* 
I cannot limit the power of God. It is wonderful to 
know what God will do for his children who keep 
themselves humble before him. 
Your sister kept by power divine. 

Lodema Kaser. 



HEAjLED of tumor. 

Bro. Byrum: As I have learned that you are in- 
tending to publish a work on divine healing, I desire 
to glorify God by telling of his wonderful power to 
heal the body in these last days. I can say to the 
glory of God that he has healed me of an ovarian 
tumor of seven or eight years growth. He healed 
me about four years ago, and since that time I have 
not been troubled with it. Giving God all the glory, 
I remain his child. 

Mary Smith. 

Dushville, Sept. 7, 1891 



ioo DIVINE HEALING 

AT DEATH'S DOOR. 

To the glory of God I wish to tell what the dear 
Lord has done for us. In 1888, my mother, Mrs. S. 
Cunningham, was taken very sick with pneumonia 
fever, and became so weak and low that she could 
not raise nor turn her head. She bade us all good 
bye, and we thought she was dying. Bro. Gray 
anointed her with oil and laid on hands, and while 
we prayed she sat up in bed and clapped her hands, 
and the next evening got up and walked to the other 
bed, and next morning went to the table and ate her 
breakfast. She was so low that she did not know 
when we began to pray for her. Although she was 
seventy years of age, yet the Lord restored her to 
health. 

I was troubled for nine years with an inward tu- 
mor, and was healed by faith in God, and the laying 
on of hands, by Bro. Warner and Mother Smith, for 
which I give God all the glory. 

Our daughter nine years of age was taken very 
sick with neuralgia of the stomach, inflammation of 
the bowels, and rheumatism all over her body. We 
had one of the best physicians wait on her for four 
weeks, and to prevent her having spasms, kept her 
under the influence of morphine. Her sufferings 
were intense. At the end of four weeks I felt led of 
God to lay aside all medicines and take God for her 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 192 

healing. I wrote to Bro. D. S. Warner to pray for 
her. After giving a dose of medicine one morning, 
I felt impressed to give her no more, so we quit 
giving it and had the doctor no more. I said, " Lord, 
here is my child, I leave her in thy hands, live or 
die. Just thy will be done and I will say, Amen." 

About three o'clock in the afternoon she said to 
me, " Mamma, I am healed. Give me something to 
eat." She had eaten scarcely anything for four 
weeks. I asked her how she knew she was healed, 
and she replied, " I have the witness." 

The Lord did not reveal to me that he was going 
to heal her, but I was waiting and trusting, perfectly 
resigned to his will, whatever it might be. She sat 
up next morning, and her strength came gradually, 
but her pain ceased instantly. Such a physician is 
worthy of all honor and praise. Glory to his namet 

Your sister in Jesus. 

Sallie Rogers. 

Humboldt, Kan., Sept. 20, 1891. 



> m 1 m* — 

HEART DISEASE CURED. 



Dear Bro. E. E. Byrum: About eight years ago 
I had lung disease so bad that it seemed I could not 
live much longer. My husband wrote to one of the 
best doctors in New York City, and gave a detailed 
description of my case. He answered that he could 



2Q2 DIVINE HEALING 

not cure me, but might possibly help me. This 
alarmed my husband and he did not show me the 
letter until we were both fully saved, then he read it 
to me. I told him I was ready to die. But shortly 
after this, by the laying on of hands, and by faith 
and prayer to God, I was instantly healed. All pain 
was gone, and my coughing stopped, and I became 
stout and healthy again. 

In about a year from that time, while overbur- 
dened with work, I was severely attacked with heart 
disease. My sufferings were intense, and my case 
was soon pronounced incurable. I went to the 
Great Physician, "who healeth all our diseases," and 
he healed me, and poured out his blessings upon my 
soul, and made me free from all pain and disease. 
To him be all the praise. 

Your sister saved in Jesus. 

Mrs. L.> Markwell. 

Wichita, Kan., July j, i8gi. 



HEALED OF CATARRH. 

Bro. Byrum: I feel led to write my experience 
to be published for the glory of God. 

Three years ago the 22nd of May, the dear Lord 
wonderfully healed my afflicted body. I went to the 
Ridgeville, O., grove-meeting; was first converted, 



OF SOUL AND BODY. igj 

then sanctified, and two days later instantly healed 
by the mighty power of God, by anointing and the 
laying on of hands. To God be all the glory. The 
healing power was felt all through me, and I knew 
the instant it was done, and can never thank Him 
enough for his goodness to me. I was afflicted for 
years with lung difficulty, catarrh and other ailments. 
Two bottles of medicine were taken with me to 
the meeting, but were of no use, for there I found a 
wonderful Physician who healed me of all my dis- 
eases. Praise his name! I had a very bad cough, 
and after I was healed it was not all gone, but I 
knew the Lord had healed me and it was all right. 
But my Methodist sister doubted my healing be- 
cause I coughed some yet. I took it to the Lord in 
prayer, and asked him to remove the cough, that 
they might believe. Thanks be to God! the third 
time I prayed it was all gone. I was weak but he 
gave me strength that enabled me to do my work 
and washing. If I felt weak I would ask God for 
strength. If Satan tempted, I would command him 
to depart. From that day to this I have not taken 
the least bit of any kind of medicine. He has healed 
me, soul and body. Oh, what an unspeakable joy 
we find in trusting God for all things! He is a pres- 
ent help in every time of need. My prayer is that 
every afflicted one will just believe with all their 



ig4 DIVINE HEALING 

heart, and it shall be done. First get saved, and them 
God will give the faith. 

Mrs. Christina Lederer. 
Watervliet, Mich., Aug. 31, 1891. 

m m m 

HEALED OF CANCER. 

Dear Bro. Byrum: In the year 1883 I discovered 
that I was afflicted with cancer. At that time I was 
converted, but knew nothing about holiness, or this 
blessed evening light, but was in perfect submission 
to the will of God, to live or die. On Jan. 11, 1884,. 
I submitted to a very severe surgical operation. It 
brought me very near death's door, yet for four 
weeks I got along very nicely, after which I passed 
through a severe ordeal and was given up to die, but. 
after three months the Lord saw fit to raise me up 
from my bed of affliction. 

In 1887 my health began to fail again, and after 
consulting the family physician he said the cancer 
had come back again, and he thought there could be 
nothing more done for me. However, he went with 
me to Pittsburg, to see what could be done. He 
took me to a leading physician of that city, who 
pronounced my case a hopeless one, and delivered a 
lecture over me to one hundred or more students,, 
declaring my hopeless condition; and intimated that. 
I would not live one year. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 195 

I always believed that Jesus had power to heal, 
and that he was just as willing to do it now, as in 
the days of the apostles. And when the doctors 
said there could be nothing more done for me, 
something seemed to say to me: Man can do no 
more, but God can. And I believed in my heart 
that God would heal me. I did not begin to pray 
for healing, but kept believing that he would heal 
me, and did not seem to get much worse. 

One year later I heard holiness preached, and the 
Lord sanctified my soul. Then I began to pray after 
this manner: Lord, if thou hast laid thine afflicting 
hand upon me, please remove it. But I received no 
answer. One day it came to me that the Lord had 
not afflicted me, but that it was the works of the 
devil, and I cried: Lord, destroy the works of the 
devil. Immediately I had the witness that it was 
done. However, the pain did not cease, neither did 
the lump disappear. Although I suffered much I 
did not doubt my healing, and thought God must 
be trying my faith. I took a great amount of mor- 
phine to relieve the pain, and when I was sanctified 
the people said I was a good woman, but morphine 
had deluded me. When I heard this I said, If taking 
morphine brings reproach on the cause of Christ, I 
will take no more if I die. I was soon severely at- 
tacked with intense pain and sickness. The doctor 



iq6 DIVINE HEALING 

came and tried to compel me to take the morphine, 
but I would not take it, but was willing for God to 
handle my case, which he did very successfully. 
The lump suddenly disappeared, and I have not had 
a bad attack since; and I have been free from cancer 
since that time, and am now enjoying the best of 
health. Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

Your sister, sanctified to do the whole will of God 

Sarah A. Farris. 

Butler, Pa., Sept. 14, i8gi. 

RESTORATION OF EYESIGHT. 

For seven years I was a great sufferer on account 
of the affliction of my eyes. There w T ould be weeks 
at a time that I would be obliged to sit in a dark 
room, just letting in a very little light, and then my 
eyes would pain me so that for many days I was 
obliged to sit by my bed with my head buried in a 
pillow, in order to get any relief at all. For about 
two years there had been a film forming over my 
left eye, nearly covering the pupil. I could not see 
to read the headings of the newspapers with it, and 
I could not see to read a chapter in the Bible with 
my right eye; it was so badly inflamed. I was con 
verted several years before this, and when I prayed 
I would ask God to give me faith to believe that he 
would heal them, but he withheld it because I was 



OF SOUL AND BODY. i 97 

not where he could do anything for me. I was trying 
to serve God, yet I was serving the world. But 
when he let the light of full salvation shine into my 
soul, and I walked in the light, he gave me faith to 
believe that he could and would heal them. 

After I was sanctified, one Sunday, at the close of 
the services, I told the brethren that I had faith to 
be healed. The elder replied: "So have I;" and 
as we knelt in prayer, he laid his hands upon me 
and asked the Lord to heal my eyes. When we arose 
from our knees the film w T as all gone, and the in- 
flammation was gone from my right eye. God has 
kept them healed from that day to this. 

I can see to read by sun light or lamp light for 
hours at a time, without the least inconvenience. 
The Lord still keeps me saved. Praise his name 
forever! 

Your sister in Christ. 

Addie Coon. 

Toquin, Mich., Aug. 2, i8gi. 

NASAL CATARRH INSTANTLY HEALED. 

Dearly Beloved Saints: In the year 1887 I 
gave my heart to God, and after serving the Lord 
for over four years, I was brought to a test of my 
faith on account of my afflictions. Having been a 
sufferer from nasal catarrh for over twenty-two 



igS DIVINE HEALING 

years, during which time I was deprived of the sense 
of smelling, and as I was on my way to the camp- 
meeting at Bangor, Mich., I contracted a severe 
cold, which greatly increased my afflictions and 
caused much pain, and the mucus was passing down 
upon my lungs, making me unfit for the ministerial 
work in which I was engaged, and I saw that I was 
in danger of that death visitor, consumption. 

On the morning of the 15th of June, 1891, while at 
the meeting, I went out into the woods and bowed 
before my heavenly Father, and poured out my 
heart in prayer to him, when the gentle voice said: 
"Call for the elders and have them anoint you with 
oil, and lay on hands, and you shall be healed." 
Leaving the spot, I came to the camp, called for the 
elders, and within five minutes was healed. In about 
half an hour afterward I thought I would test my 
healing. Going into the boarding tent, I picked up 
a beautiful rose, and as I put it to my nose my 
heart bounded, as I smelled the sweet odor of that 
beautiful rose, after having been deprived of such a 
privilege for over twenty-two years. But God shall 
have all the glory. 

Yours in him. 

John A. Dillon. 

St. Petersburg, Pa., Aug. io y i8gi. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. igg 

A WONDERFUL CURE OF CONSUMPTION. 

The dear Lord has brought me up from such 
•depths of weakness and affliction, suffering and dis- 
couragements, into his great and glorious light, and 
-saves and so lovingly keeps me day by day, that I 
feel that I should tell it for his glory, and with the 
hope and desire that it may encourage and lead 
some other sick and despairing soul to the great 
and mighty Physician, who so tenderly soothes and 
heals both soul and body. 

I have nursed and buried my whole family, con- 
sisting of husband and five children. Also two grand- 
children, who were all victims of that terrible dis- 
ease, consumption. The last of the family, my 
beloved son, was taken from me about eight month 
ago, during whose sickness and death I was a brought 
low with nervous prostration and extreme grief. I 
•used medicines until I found they were of no earthly 
use to me, and I kept growing weaker and weaker. 

A slow and lingering fever, a severe cough, and a 
horrible feeling of suffocation caused by inflamma- 
tion of the bronchial tubes, caused me to give up all 
hopes of life. All those symptoms kept increasing. 
I coughed harder, had pain in my side and chest 
continually; sometimes sharp and cutting, some- 
times dull and aching; chills in the fore part of the 
day, and in the afternoon hectic fever; terrible night 



200 DIVINE HEALING 

sweats, profuse expectoration, loss ot appetite r 
swelling of the limbs, etc., which, beyond all doubts,, 
were the last stages of consumption. 

This was my condition, when on the 14th of 
March, 1891, Bro. J. W. Byers of this city, called to 
see me, and asked me if I was a child of God; to 
which I could truthfully answer, Yes. When he told 
me that God had provided for the healing of the 
body as well as for the soul, and that God is not the 
author of disease, and would heal all who would 
comply with his requirements, and grasp the promise 
of healing, I said, Yes, I believe those promises for 
healing as much as any of the rest of God's word, 
but did not seem to claim them for myself. This 
dear brother dealt very plainly with me in taking 
me through a searching consecration. And when I 
saw the requirements in order to believe, I was sure 
I could lay hold on the blessed Master, and never 
let go until I was sanctified and healed. 

I was willing and ready to be anointed for healing 
Accordingly four of the Lord's elect met in my 
room at 4 P. M. the next day. The night before this 
had been a sleepless and restless one on account of 
my low physical condition, but my faith was strong. 
These dear saints now offered up earnest prayer, 
which went up to the throne as incense, and was 
heard and answered by the Father. I shall never 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 201 

forget the sweet consciousness of God's presence 
filling that little room with a glory not of earth, as 
my head was anointed with oil. Then once more the 
promises were claimed for me, his sick and suffering 
child, while I lay passive at his feet. They began 
softly to sing: "She only touched the hem of his 
garment," and O praise his dear name forever! even 
as they uttered these words the mighty deed was 
done. Through all my chilled and dying body the 
warm life-blood went rushing. I felt the glow of a 
new life; a delicious warmth penetrated my clammy 
limbs; the pain and soreness left my throat and lungs; 
I breathed with ease, and raising myself up in bed I 
stretched out my hands and exclaimed, O thank God ? 
I am healed! 

Words cannot be found to express the peace and 
joy that fills my soul as I realize I am again a well 
woman. That night my rest was so sweet, and un 
broken by either cough or sweating; and next morn- 
ing I arose and dressed myself without assistance; 
walked through one large room to the front door„ 
looking out upon the beautiful world which I 
thought I should never see again, then walked back 
to the kitchen, went to the table and ate a hearty- 
breakfast; for with this new life came a hearty appe- 
tite for food. I can now, and have from that day- 
been able to go about my work, often walking haLf 



202 DIVINE HEALING 

a mile or more to church without fatigue. Blessed 
and kept " exceeding abundantly above all I could 
ask or think." 

My body is not only healed, but my spiritual life 
is so wonderfully renewed and strengthened. The 
dear Lord does graciously fulfill his promise to " keep 
in perfect peace all those whose minds are stayed 
on him." 

Your sister, sanctified and healed. 

Eliza C. Stubbs. 

San Diego, CaL, June i, i8gi. 

A MTIXE BOY'S PRAYER ANSWERED. 

Several years ago I was very much afflicted in 
body, and was greatly troubled with phthisic, and 
like hundreds of other people, began doctoring, and 
had about a bushel-basketful of medicine bottles 
which I had used. A doctor in Fort Wayne pro- 
nounced me incurable, and said I would be a dead 
man in less than three years, and was liable to drop 
dead at any time. So I began smoking and chewing 
tobacco more than ever. I would smoke so I could 
get breath. I went on in this way for about a year, 
preaching for the Winebrennarians, and soon two 
holiness preachers came into the neighborhood, 
teaching holiness. At first I was foolish enough to 
oppose them, but soon found they were teaching 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 203 

Bible doctrine, and I made the consecration, died 
the death unto sin, and the Lord sanctified my soul 
on the first day of September, 1876; and at the same 
time took away the appetite for tobacco, and in- 
stantly healed me of phthisic. 

About four years after this I was lying sick with 
typhoid fever, but would take no medicine. A doc- 
tor came to see me, and I heard him tell my wife 
that it was too bad for that man to lie there and die 
in that way. He went away, and about 10 o'clock I 
called for a drink of water, and shortly after taking- 
it I felt the effects of something in my stomach, and 
asked my wife if the doctor left any medicine, but 
she gave me no answer; I asked the second time, 
and she said he did. I told her the doctor should 
have no praise for this; so I put my finger in my 
throat and threw the stuff off my stomach. Then 
the Lord impressed me the next morning to send 
for two of the brethren to come and anoint me with 
oil, and pray for my healing. They were not elders, 
and faith healing was not taught there very much, 
so their faith was not very strong in that direction. 
But soon they became strong in faith. They anointed 
me and prayed for me, and I was healed in an in- 
stant, and gave God all the praise and glory. 

For about five years I had a cancer on my neck 
below my left ear. In February, 1886, it began eating 



204 DIVINE HEALING 

and causing such awful pain, that my sufferings 
were intense. My friends advised me to do a great 
many things; some would advise one thing, some 
another. This continued until March 6, 1886. In 
the evening, while alone with my little nine-year-old 
boy, who had been converted some time before this, 
I saw that man's extremity was God's opportunity. 
There in the midst of the most intense suffering, 
while asking the Lord what I should do, I called 
little Freddie to me and told him to lay his little 
hands on the cancer and ask the Lord to take away 
the pain and heal me. He did so, and prayed to 
himself. But I said, " Pray aloud so I can hear you." 
The dear child cried aloud and wept, and said, " Dear 
Lord, take away the pain and heal Papa;" and in 
that instant the pain was all gone; and in about four 
days the cancer was all healed over. The people 
would say, What did you do to it? I would say, The 
Lord healed it. They would say, Well, it is healed, 
sure, but what did you put on it? The Lord healed 
it, I would say. I was asked as many questions as 
was the blind man who was restored to sight. "God 
moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform." 
Dear brethren, see that your boys get saved, and 
have faith in Jesus Christ, and you will not have to 
send them through snow and storm and dark nights 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 205 

for a doctor. "0 for a faith that will not shrink 
though pressed by every foe!" 

In the year 1890 I had a very severe attack of La 
Grippe, with a bad cough and awful pain in my side. 
My friends would get out of patience because I 
would not have a doctor. Some said it was because 
I did not want to pay a doctor bill, but I told my 
son-in-law to take ten dollars of my money, and in- 
stead of paying a doctor, after I was dead, to pay it 
to four poor orphan children. Friends came in to 
see me die; and made arrangements for my funeral, 
During the thirteen days of my sickness, my little 
boy, Freddie, had laid his hands on me six times, 
and asked the Lord to heal me. In the evening of 
the fourteenth day of my sickness, while we were 
alone together, the dear little motherless boy sat 
weeping, for it seemed as if I was his last friend on 
earth. I called him to me and he came and kissed 
me as though it were his farewell kiss. The thought 
of parting came. my God! can it be so? After he 
became a little more quiet I said, Freddie, lay hands 
on me the seventh time. And he came weeping, and 
asked the Lord to heal me; and in an instant the 

pain was all gone, and I was healed. May the Lord 
receive all the praise. 

Your brother in Christ. 

J. S. Smurr. 
Carlisle, Mich. 



206 DIVINE HEALING 



HOW GOD DELIVERED ME. 



How true are the words of our blessed Master, "A 
city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." Yea, the 
overflowing joy of a soul redeemed and purified by 
the precious blood of Christ will ripple forth from 
tongue and pen, until the glad tidings are borne all 
over the land to God's "little ones; " and they are 
made to rejoice with the angels in heaven, "over one 
sinner that repenteth." 

Ten months have passed away since my captive 
soul was set at liberty, and the fetters of sin de- 
stroyed. But before relating my blessed evening 
light experience, the dear Lord impresses me to- 
retrace a few of the wasted years of my former life; 
that all the dear readers may know and appreciate 
God's wondrous works in connection with my salva- 
tion. God has been so merciful and good to me 
that it is with shame and sorrow I recall the past; 
but I am willing to endure both, if my feeble testi- 
mony can in any way glorify his holy name. 

When quite a young girl (perhaps eleven years of 
age), a Methodist revival was being held in the little 
village where my parents lived, during which I be- 
came convicted and gave my heart to God. As these 
lines are penned, the occurrence rises vividly before 
me; for it was on that eventful night the wondrous 
power and glory of God stamped a hallowed im- 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 207 

pression upon my memory, which time could never 
efface, and which afterwards prevented me from be- 
coming an infidel. When I was converted there did 
not seem to be any one among the M. E. professors 
present capable of instructing those who were at the 
altar; but Jesus, blessed Jesus met me there, and 
after penitently confessing my sins in a childish, 
innocent way, and being willing to sacrifice every 
thing to follow him, I grasped his precious promise, 
and received the blessed witness that my name was 
written in heaven. 

Time wore away, but as I was totally ignorant of 
sanctification, and had received but few instructions 
regarding my duty to the dear Redeemer, before 
many months elapsed, the pleasures of the world 
turned my heart in rebellion away from God. Ere 
long I was married, and eight years of my life were 
afterwards spent amid the giddy whirl of fashion 
and society. 

Infidel literature was continually strewn across my 
pathway, and much of my time was spent in reading 
"Tom Payne's Age of Reason;" Huxley's and Dar- 
win's works; also D. M. Bennet's ungodly, appalling 
publications; in addition to many other infidel books 
and papers unnecessary to mention. Oh, the match- 
less love and mercy of Almighty God, to spare my 
unworthy life! 



2o8 DIVINE HEALING 

My husband, though noble, kind, affectionate and 
true, was an infidel, and accepted science and phil- 
osophy rather than the Bible; and being a man 
whom the great Creator had endowed with a super- 
ior intellect, many of his friends were willing to be 
guided by his anti-religious theories, with which I 
came in contact daily. I loved my husband as only 
a wife and mother can love, and as I was only seven- 
teen years of age, while he was many years my 
senior, I always looked to him in childish confidence 
for guidance and protection; and no doubt would 
have been led to infidelity if it had not been for my 
former religious experience. 

I could not doubt the existence of a Savior. With 
all the influences of infidelity that were brought to 
bear upon me, the memory of that hallowed night 
when God's mighty power flooded my soul, always 
seemed to rise like an image before me, and beat 
back the powers of darkest unbelief. I never could 
doubt the existence of a mighty God, after having 
felt his Holy Spirit within my soul; and so, through 
every conflict, I always steadfastly maintained the 
knowledge of a blessed Savior's existence. 

But to return to the subject of my own life. For 
years I reveled in the gratification of every foolish 
whim, spending thousands of dollars for magnifi- 
cent wearing apparel, and costly household articles 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 209 

of decoration- We were living in Allegheny City, 
Pa., a portion of the time, and my companions, 
though educated and refined, were gay butterflies of 
fashion like myself, flitting hither and thither to 
theatres, receptions, and all manner of worldly 
amusements. Every foolish luxury that wealth could 
afford, I partook of, and frequently walked upon the 
city streets clad in a small fortune of seal-skin, lace, 
silk, and diamonds, forgetful of the hungry mouths, 
and destitute homes of wretched families, whose 
thin, tattered mantles were insufficient to cover their 
nakedness from the cruel winter winds. 

I did not stop to consider that one glittering gem 
upon my finger would purchase food and clothing 
for many wretched, groveling human beings, who 
came across my pathway daily, with wan, haggard 
faces and hollow eyes, begging alms. Oh God! why 
art thou so mindful of me, when so many years of my 
life were spent in devotion to worldly idols, and the 
time, talent, health, wealth and strength which thou 
didst give me, were spent in serving Jthe adversary 
of my soul! " But time onward flows like a river 
vast," changing the course of our lives. With all 
the friends, wealth, vanity, and dazzling splendor of 
worldly allurements, my hungry soul was never sat- 
isfied — money could not buy the heavenly manna I 
craved for. Pride must fall. The all-seeing eye of 



2io DIVINE HEALING 

Almighty God beheld my pitiful and deplorable con- 
dition; he saw the gloom within my wretched soul,, 
and in his faithfulness saw the necessity of afflicting 
me that I might learn to " lay up treasures in heaven." 
The first blow of his chastening rod fell upon my 
rebellious heart a little more than three years ago, 
To me there was nothing more delightful in this 
world than to be seated around the family fireside 
with my husband and only child; but God had num- 
bered my idols, and smote the family oak — whose 
branches had sheltered my boy and me from toil, 
care and want for so many years. On the 31st day of 
May, 1888, a team of horses ran away and plunged 
upon the helpless form of my husband, injuring him. 
so severely that his entire body became instantly 
paralyzed, in which condition he lingered four long 
months in untold agony. Only his head and neck 
were alive, the balance of his body was apparently 
lifeless. One day during his terrible illness, while I 
was suffering indescribable mental anguish, these words, 
were spoken by the Savior to my soul, "Whom the 
Lord loveth he chasteneth." Instead of falling upon 
my knees in humble submission to his holy will, I 
scoffed and jeered in the face of the Almighty and 
just God. I said it was not justice that a kind father 
and loving husband should be taken from me, when 
<. here were so many cruel and worthless drunkards. 



OF SOUL AND BODY, 211 

in the world who abused their families. Verily, " My 
thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your 
ways my ways, saith the Lord." Oh, the appalling 
rebellion, sin and woe that reigned w T ithin my cruel, 
wretched heart! Of all mortalsl felt that I was most 
miserable. At times when my husband's sufferings 
were so severe, I would frantically leave the house* 
and wander through the fields, calling upon God 
desparingly. With prayers and tears I would look 
up to the blue arched heavens, and implore the Lamb 
of God to let my husband die, that I might not behold 
the scene any longer. On the 28th day of September, 
death came with its stern decree and summoned the 
soul of the one I loved so well, to eternity. But 
withal, God's hand had not yet completed the de- 
struction of my earthly idols. Verily, " Thou shalt 
have no other gods before me." " I, the Lord thy 
God, am a jealous God." After the burial of my 
husband I discovered that I had become a physical 
wreck. I had always been so vain over my robust 
appearance, but God in his faithfulness had permitted 
my health to be taken from me, and I became emac- 
iated, haggard and wan (another idol shattered that 
he afterwards might be glorified); and within a few 
days I received a telegram stating that my mother 
was seriously ill and not expected to live. I believe 
God called me to her bedside, that I might meet his 



212 DIVINE HEALING 

ministering angel, Brother Warner, who pointed out 
to me the way of life ; for when I arrived at my mother's 
home she was out of danger and rapidly recovering. 
Ofttimes it seemed I was doomed to come in contact 
with the children of God. They all were plainly dress- 
•ed. Some of them were very poor,]and lived in humble 
homes — but their time-worn clothing covered souls 
that were redeemed and made white by the blood 
of the Lamb. " By their fruits ye shall know them." 
And verily I have proved this to be true. The beauty 
— not of outward adornment, but of their daily lives 
— preached sermons to me which I could not escape 
from nor fail to behold. If I called upon the sick, 
God's ministering angels were there before me, with 
loving hearts and sun-browned, toil-worn hands, ren- 
dering both spiritual and temporal aid. Whenever 
or wherever I met with God's little ones the beauty 
of their works followed them. But how vastly different 
was my unhappy, worthless life! Money proved a 
curse to me. I spent it recklessly, without benefit 
to myself or those around me, and the fruit of my 
works was a bitter, remorseful conscience. So it 
seemed the blessed Savior's will that my silver and 
gold should take its departure through various losses 
as well as through my own extravagance. My heart 
was so proud and rebellious, God in his wisdom saw 
the great necessity of chastening my stubborn will 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 213 

into subjection through death, loss of health, property 
and friends. Oh praise his holy name forever and 
ever! In addition to the awful chastening I received 
I was much of the time under deep conviction. 
Wherever I went, a sweet low voice murmured to my 
soul, " I will guide thee with mine eye." I could not 
escape those thrilling words. They followed me 
through the long dreary hours of the night. When the 
world seemed to be asleep, and I would rise in my 
loneliness and desolation to weep, I could feel the 
all-searching eye of Almighty God penetrating the 
darkened chambers of my hungry soul. I was starving, 
famishing for something, and knew not what. For 
an interval of almost three years my condition re- 
mained unchanged. Duringthis time I passed through 
indescribable mental anguish because of a law-suit 
which involved my husband's estate. Those of my 
friends or relatives whose duty it was to protect my 
child and me, left us alone in the world in our grief and 
desolation, to learn life's lesson among strangers. 
And we endured persecutions which God alone will 
reveal in final doom, but with all the awful chastenings 
I had received from the hand of the Lord, my heart 
was still rebellious, and again terrible bodily afflictions 
were permitted to come upon me, until at times my 
life was almost despaired of. It was during a severe 
attack of illness that I promised to yield to God's 



214 DIVINE HEALING 

Holy Spirit if he would spare my unworthy life, and 
his blessed hand raised me up that I might fulfill my 
promise. 

Ten months ago during the month of February, I 
was stopping at my father's home, when Brother 
Dillon began a series of revival meetings in an ad- 
loining building. It was only a few steps from our 
door to the saints' meeting-house. While sitting in 
my room I could hear the songs of Zion, and the 
prayers of the redeemed as they ascended to the 
throne of grace. For the first time in years I came 
to the full realization that it was the blood of Christ 
my hungry soul was yearning for. After struggling 
against conviction for so long, I attended an ordinance 
meeting, and there resolved to spend eternity with 
Christ. Many of the saints were present, and as I, the 
chief of sinners, knelt at the mercy seat, a chorus of 
hallelujahs poured forth in volumes to the throne of 
God. O praise his holy name forever! Amen and 
amen! I had never heard a prayer in my father's 
house, and as my father was present on that occasion, 
and witnessed the scene of his own flesh and blood 
struggling until nearly midnight against the powers 
of hell, his face seemed transformed into an image 
of marble. The dear ones labored with me until 
their strength seemed to be exhausted, but I did not 
meet God's requirements, and still remained a captive. 



Ob SOUL AND BODY. 215 

At last meeting was dismissed, and as my little boy 
and I wended our way homeward, a violent storm 
was raging, while the wind and rain beat upon us 
with relentless fury. Amid all this, when we could 
hardly see our way before us, the sweet childish face 
of my innocent boy was upturned to me in pertect 
confidence, and he said, "Dear Mamma, you area 
saint now; I am going to trust you more than ever 
before; for I know you will always tell me the truth." 
Oh what a precious lesson those few words were! — 
to look to Jesus in that same childish confidence 
amid the awful tempest that was raging in my soul. 
The following day my peace was made with God 
through faith and repentance, after which I presented 
my body a" living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, 
which was my reasonable service." I consecrated my 
time, talent, friends, property, character and will, in 
connection with every earthly tie, all that I could 
think of and all that I could not think of. Every 
earthly joy which had formerly afforded me pleasure 
in a worldly way, all were placed on the altar Christ 
Jesus. Then and then only did his blessed word 
assure me that the altar sanctified the gift. O praise 
his holy name! All that I have and all that I am I 
owe to Christ, and to his blessed name give all the 
glory; and I know that he has not chastened me for 
pleasure, but of necessity that my soul might be 



216 DIVINE HEALING 

saved from eternal doom. I not only accepted this 
wonderful Savior as the great Redeemer of my soul, but 
also as the divine healer of all physical ailments. 
Shortly after I was saved I became seriously ill, and 
was so weakened with pain and fever caused by La 
Grippe that it was difficult for me to raise my head 
from the pillow; but in accordance with his blessed 
word I called for the elders, who laid hands on me 
in Jesus' name. Instantly I was healed and arose 
from my bed. Praise his dear name forever and 
ever! At different times the dear Lord has raised me 
from beds of affliction when I was so weak and ill it 
seemed that I would die. Oh how can I praise my 
God enough! He has redeemed my unworthy soul„ 
and gives me a pure heart. He has given me grace 
to stand beside my mother's coffin with heavenly 
resignation to his blessed will. He has enabled me 
to endure persecutions with perfect victory, which 
were sufficient to make me insane. He has removed 
all pride and worldly conformity from my heart as 
far as the East is from the West. He has by a bitter 
past experience pointed out to me the great necessity 
of lifting up my voice like a trumpet to cry against 
the vanity of this world, which in former years was 
dragging my own wretched soul to eternal ruin. He 
has enabled me to make wrongs right, and has filled 
my soul with peace, love and rest. One hour of 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 217 

sweet communion with my God I would not exchange 
for all the former years of my life of worldly pleasure, 
What is society but deception? what is vanity but a 
curse? What is wealth but a transitory comfort? 
which in most cases has a tendency to plunge souls 
into eternal ruin. Let us therefore be satisfied with 
such things as we have ; for when time shall be no more, 
will the great Ruler of heaven and earth award ever- 
lasting life to those whose soft white hands, decked 
with glittering gems, have been idly folded on richly 
embroidered satin and damask all through the fleeting 
years of their worthless lives ? Nay, verily the horny- 
handed reapers, who come from God's great harvest 
field, bringing the fruits of their labors with them, 
these are they whose voices shall blend in grand 
harmonious hallelujahs, when these words are spoken: 
" Well done, good and faithful servants," enter into 
the joy of thy Lord. Amen and amen. 
Yours saved and sanctified. 

Birdie E r Fink. 

A WARNING AGAINST OPIUM. 

About thirty years ago the ' dreadful disease of 
consumption came upon me, with an awful cough 
All kinds of medicines that could be obtained were 
used, but in a few years it seemed that relief was a 
failure, and my case became a hopeless one. My body 



218 DIVINE HEALING 

was a mass of disease, and wrecked withpain, insomuch 
that tongue cannot express the sufferings through 
which I passed. Strong tea and smoking tobacco 
were excessively used, and I was also advised to take 
opium. Not knowing the evil effects of it, I began us- 
ing it, and soon the habit fastened upon me. If at any- 
time I was deprived of opium it seemed as if a million 
red hot needles were piercing me, and I suffered the 
agonies of death until again supplied with the stuff 
to which I was enslaved. 

After I was converted, in answer to prayer my health 
became some better for a time, but I continued the 
use of opium, not being fully awakened to the great 
evil of such a habit, and knowing my utter inability 
to give it up. 

Before I was sanctified I had to consecrate to quit 
taking opium and risk my life entirely in God's hands, 
and when I had given up all things he sanctified my 
soul, and swept away the appetite. Two days after- 
ward I had hands laid on me for my complete healing 
after having been shown in the night that it was his 
will to heal me. 

My long Jsickness had left me almost a skeleton, 
and my body was a mass of disease and corruption, 
steeped with the poison of opium and drugs. But 
the Lord spoke the words and I was healed. Then 
I became hungry and could eat almost any good 



OF SOUL AND BODY, 219 

wholesome food without injury. Immediately after 
the healing power came upon me a cleansing process 
began, and my system was relieved of all poisonous 
effects, and my body was left very weak. The brethren 
laid on hands and asked God to fill me with his Holy 
Spirit, and the power of God came upon me. I arose, 
leaped and shouted, and went to meeting and the 
Lord spoke through me in mighty power. Blessed 
be his name! 

For one week after being healed I stayed with a 
sister in Christ and attended the meetings, and each 
day my husband and children would come with opium, 
but always finding me improving did not offer it to 
me. I cannot find words strong enough to warn people 
against the use of opium. A person can so easily 
become a slave to it, but when once enslaved nothing 
but the power of God will break its chains. The 
Lord keeps me wonderfully saved and healed. 

Mrs. F. A. Abbott. 

Bangor, Mich.., Aug. 5, 1891. 



DEVILS CAST OUT. 

I wish to testify to the mighty power of God in 
delivering my soul from the power of Satan. I was 
born Dec. 2, 1867, near Jerry City, O., where I lived 
until about one year ago. My parents being saved I 
had religious teaching, and was saved at the age of 



220 DIVINE HEALING 

13 years. At the age of 16 years I went into the 
world to do for myself. Associating with the unsaved 
and going to places of worldly amusement, I soon 
lost the love of God and went back into sin, and fell 
into all the evil habits that are so common to the 
young men of to day, until I became a miserable sin- 
ful wretch. I shunned Christian society, disregarded 
the admonition of friends and parents, and rejected 
the word of God and the conviction of his Holy 
Spirit. This reckless course was pursued until about 
the 1st of October, 1889, when, one night just after 
going into my room, the Spirit of God spoke to me 
like a voice from heaven, saying, "How long will you 
continue in this condition?" I promised the Lord 
that if he would spare my life for two years then I 
would give my heart to him. But the voice said, 
" You must decide to night." I said, " Lord, I cannot 
start now." In an instant after this decision I saw a 
demon face approaching me. I tried to resist it, 
but could not help myself; the awful grinning face 
came straight to mine, then a fearful, clammy, choking 
sensation seized hold of me, and I could not get my 
breath. I saw that the devil had taken possession of 
my body. I ran out doors and knelt down by a tree 
and asked God to have mercy on me, and I would 
give my heart to him. I felt some better, but still 
there was something like a large lump in my breast, 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 221 

which at times would come up in my throat and choke 
me almost to death. I tried to live better, but could 
not. The devil led me captive to his will. Every night 
a spell of terrible fear would come upon me. My 
friends would sit up with me. The devil made me 
believe I had sinned against the Holy Ghost. I was 
in this condition until the 9th of Nov., 1889, when in 
one of these spells that voice that I had rejected came 
to me again, saying, "If you start to night you can be 
saved." Bless the Lord! I grasped the promise, 
sent for the elders of the church, and confessed to 
them my condition, and they laid hands on me in the 
name of the Lord and prayed for me, and the Lord 
cast out the evil spirits. I then repented of my sins, 
and God forgave them all. About two weeks after, 
I was sanctified; and am now living every day free 
from sin, and preaching to others this wonderful 
salvation. 

Yours in him. 

W. J. Henry. 



THE BLIND AND LAME SEE AND AVALK. 

I do thank Almighty God that he has so willed it 
that I can write with my own hand and tell of his 
mighty power to heal, save and keep me. Glory and 
praises to his blessed name! And I can truly say, 
Once I was lame, now I can walk; once^I t was blind, 



222 DIVINE HEALING 

now I can see. I can say as did the woman of old, 
My faith has made me whole. One of His precious 
promises is, " If ye ask in faith believing, ye shall 
receive." I asked in faith, and I did receive. Glory 
to his name! And from the moment I was healed — 
two weeks ago to night — I have not had an ache or 
pain, neither do I get weary. I can work, and walk 
anywhere, — something I had not been able to do for 
two years. 

I was severely injured by a fall, which resulted in 
epileptic fits, and was getting worse all the time. I 
was taken to my bed the 7th of January, and became 
so bad that I lost my mind and eyesight. The doctors 
said I would never get well. And I never would by 
human skill, but the great Physician, our Savior Jesus 
Christ, the healer of all diseases, saw fit in his kind 
providence to restore me to health and strength. 
" God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to 
perform." 

I know if I live a hundred years and work for him, 
I can never repay him for his goodness and mercy 
to unworthy me. My daily prayer is that I may live 
a pure, humble, devoted Christian life, and tell others 
of his power to heal the body as well as the soul. 
If we ask in faith believing, the prayer of the 
righteous availeth much. 

I cannot find words to express what is in my heart 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 223 

what I saw and the way I felt when I was healed. I 
can only say it was direct answer from God to my 
prayer of faith. I must close by saying, The half 
has not been told. I ask an interest in your prayers 
that I may be kept humble and faithful unto the 
end, and that I may be a bright and shining light for 
him who did so much for me. 

Yours in Christ. 

Minnie Chapman. 

Dayton, Ohio, Feb. 2j, 18Q2. 

*» i n m> 

BROKEN BONE HEALED. 

I rejoice to know that I am saved just now, and 
can say as the apostle Paul said, " For we know that 
if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, 
we have a building of God, a house not made with 
hands, eternal in the heavens." — 2 Cor. 5: I. "For the 
Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? 
the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I 
be afraid?" — Psa. 27: 1. I praise the Lord for the 
salvation of my soul, and for the healing of my body. 
I was kicked by a cow and my limb was broken. We 
sent not for an earthly physician, but for the elders 
of the church, as the Word teaches, and by prayer 
and laying on of hands the pain was all taken away, 
and I began to amend; and next day I walked about 
with a crutch, bearing some weight on my broken 




224 DIVINE HEALING 

limb. This caused quite a stir among the people, 
and the devil got very mad, and caused a falsehood 
to be published in several newspapers, which the 
people read, and came for miles to see what great 
harm had come to me by trusting the Lord: but, 
praise the Lord! to their astonishment they found it 
as the people did in the case of the viper fastening to 
Paul's hand. Acts 28: 6. No harm came to me; for 
God both set the bone and healed my limb, without 
even a bandage, for which I give Him all the glory. 

Your sister in the body of Christ. 

Matilda M. Bragg. 

Sweetser, Ind., April 1, i8go. 



AN ANOINTED IIANDKEIICHIEF APPLIED. 

I feel it a great privilege to add my testimony 
with that of others, in the book on Divine Healing. 
I have been most wonderfully led of the Holy Spirit, 
out into this blessed evening light, before knowing 
-of such a chosen people of God. 

After hearing of them, I was sick unto death with 
"' La Grippe." Doctors helped some but finally 
failed, and said that my system was full of ' Grippe ' 
poison. My extremity was God's opportunity. I 
wanted an evidence from God that this people were 
right, but I did not think of it when I wrote and 
asked Brother Byrum to pray for my healing. I 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 22s 

asked to be anointed by faith, not even thinking of 
St. Paul's sending out handkerchiefs and aprons 
from his body. I was greatly surprised upon re- 
ceiving the anointed handkerchief from our brother, 
and felt a power of God upon me from it when I 
took it in my hands. At the hour set apart for 
prayer for me, I applied the handkerchief, nothing 
doubting. In three days after there was a special 
manifestation of divine power, and in five days I 
found myself free from all 'Grippe" poison. In a 
short time 1 was especially led of God to a camp- 
meeting, and there the elders laid on hands for the 
full return of my strength. It came at once, and I 
never knew such health and strength in my younger 
days as I have had since. Praise God forever! After 
my return from camp-meeting, Sister Ilattie Marsh 
was brought low upon a sick bed, from the effects 
of "La Grippe," and injuries received at child-birth, 
which had become chronic, the inflammation being 
great. Her physician said there was no more help 
for her. I was with her most of the time for a week. 
Her case was a sad one — a mother of small children, 
and almost in despair, having no faith for herself; 
saying that it was for such as myself but not for her 
to be healed, as she was not good enough. God 
over-ruled such ideas, and I wrote for prayer for her, 
and the anointing. On the Sabbath day, when prayers 









226 DIVINE HEALING 

were offered for her, she was in great confusion and 
greatly tempted, but very quiet. We prayed at the 
hour set apart, and then waited upon God quietly 
for several hours. Again we prayed, and applied 
the anointed handkerchief over the diseased parts* 
Her confusion left her, her faith took hold of God 
her sins were forgiven, and she was healed. She 
arose from her bed and went about the house with 
her face lighted up with a heavenly smile which we 
had never seen upon it before, and which does not 
become less. 

Dear suffering ones, whoever and wherever you 
are, you that are living without a hope of ever being 
any better, oh! let us entreat you and prevail with 
you, to put on courage, and look to Jesus. The vir- 
tue that was in Christ to heal the sick eighteen hun- 
dred years ago, has lost none of its power, but is the 
same to day. 

Mrs. Melissa Lane. 

Binghamton, N. Y. 



THE CHASTENING ROD. 



Believing that it would be to the glory of God, I 
will write a little of my experience, showing how 
terribly God laid his chastening hand upon me; and 
how wonderfully and miraculously he delivered me 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 227 

when engulfed in the deepest sorrow and anguish of 
mind known to man on earth. 

While living in a cold profession, being a member 
of the U B. sect, although counted one of the faith- 
ful ones, I was constantly reminded (as everyone 
who is deficient will be) that I was not doing all that 
I could do to please my Master. In the spring of 
1880 God's chastening hand was laid heavily upon 
me. Sleep was taken away from me, and for about 
four and one-half months I do not think that I slept 
twelve hours; although I usually limit the time to- 
twenty-four hours, to be sure that I make no mis- 
statement. This was obtained by sleeping medicine, 
of which I would take a sufficient amount to put a 
well man to sleep so that I think he would never 
wake. Sometimes I would get a few minute's sleep, 
if sleep it might be called. But often even this 
failed to put me to sleep. During this time terrible 
things were revealed to me concerning my eternal 
welfare, of which I will only give a part, fearing that 
I shall be too lengthy. I was cast into hell, whether 
in the body or out of the body I cannot tell; but it 
seemed to me in the body. First a voice said to me, 
" This is the punishment you shall receive for the 
way you have lived." And I was cast into the lake 
that burnetii with fire and brimstone, only for a few 
seconds. First I sank under, then came up and 



228 DIVINE HEALING 

floated on top, and I can testify to the awful pains 
and pangs of hell as being indescribable. It seemed 
to be more than I could endure and live. A few 
days after this I had a vision. I saw, while awake, 
three angels high in the heavens float out in their 
beautiful long robes. And one opened a book and 
began to read: Then shall the kingdom of heaven be 
likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and 
went forth to meet the bridegroom; five of them 
were wise, and five were foolish. And a voice said 
to me, You are one of the foolish virgins; and that I 
had no oil in my lamp. During all my affliction I 
was just as rational as I have ever been; and prayed 
to God day and night that I might be delivered. 
But God continually deepened my sorrows by show- 
ing*me that in my condition I was eternally lost. 
At the close of this chastisement I saw a beautiful 
fiery scroll in the heavens, after which I was again 
set free. Life now seemed sweeter than ever before. 
Old things became new. While once I read the 
Word of God because I felt it my duty, now I love 
it and my Savior above all things. I now felt a call 
to go into the work for the Lord. But I refused. 
The Spirit pressed upon me so heavily, and desiring' 
some other evidence, I would take my testament in 
my hand and say to the Lord, If you want me in the 
work, let it open to such a place; and it would open 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 22g 

to that place. Not willing to take this as an evidence,.. 
I would name another place, and ask again, and it 
would open to that place. Then I would say that it 
just happened so. Often I would ask, and the Lord 
would answer in this way. Then I would say, Lord, 
if you want me in the work, speak it plainly to me 
and I will go. For nearly ten years I grieved the 
Lord in this way until he again laid his chastening 
hand upon me. Sleep was again taken away from 
me, and for nearly six months no one could compre- 
hend without a similar experience how terrible the 
agonies which I passed through. One hour seemed 
as long as three. Many times in various ways I had 
planned to take my own life. But the Lord always 
prevented. The Lord showed me plainly that if I 
had been patient he would not have chastened me 
so severely. I would often say that if I knew that I 
would ever be delivered, then I could be patient. 
But after pleading so long with God for mercy and 
deliverance, and promising to obey him and be 
obedient in all things, and yet finding no release, 
I would grow impatient and try to convince the 
Lord that he was unjust to still continue this terrible 
affliction upon me. 

During this last chastisement, while awake, a 
voice from [above spoke plainly to me, saying, By 
the grace of God you may live always. There is a 



2jo DIVINE HEALING 

work for you to do. I give to you the keys of the 
kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever you shall bind 
on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever 
you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 

Shortly after this the subject of a message which 
God has given me to put before the world, was 
given to me; viz., That popular ministers of the 
Gospel are leading more souls to eternal despair 
than all other institutions of evil combined: and to 
prove it by the Word of God. 

Yours in Christ. 

W. S. Bangs. 

Alma, Mich. 



A FRIEND IN AFFLICTION. 

We will remember in asking God to heal our bod- 
ies that he says, " Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; 
who healeth all thy diseases/' It was also good for 
me to be afflicted that I might learn the statutes of 
the Lord. 

In 1886 the Lord pardoned my sins and made me 
to rejoice in his love. But, like a great many others t 
I joined the Methodist sect; but to be sure, if we walk 
in the light, as he is in the light, the blood will cleanse 
us from all sin. The Lord did not permit me to lose 
my experience until I received the light on coming 
out of Babylon, and rejected it. God convicted me 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 231 

for baptism; having been sprinkled in the M. E. sect, 
he wonderfully convinced me that he had not accepted 
sprinkling as baptism for me. I went on in this 
condition about six months, very miserable indeed, 
realizing the wrath of God upon me. And God 
permitted a dreadful affliction to come upon me, 
which I thought at the time would take my life, and 
I knew that if I died in that condition I would be 
lost. "The pains of hell gat hold upon me; the 
sorrows of death compassed me about. I cried unto 
the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me out of 
my distresses," and once more pardoned my sins. I 
had all the medical aid that I needed for nearly three 
months, which seemed to avail but little. Sometimes 
I would receive temporary relief therefrom, but no 
permanent cure was effected. But when I did every 
thing that God required of me, — that was, to come 
out of Babylon, and promise God that I would be bap- 
tized by immersion in the name of Jesus, — he filled 
my soul with his glory and healed my body. Praise 
the Lord forever for his wonderful works to the chil- 
dren of men! It was on Wednesday when the Lord 
healed me, and I was baptized the Sunday following. 
Truly God witnessed my baptism by his Holy Spirit, 
and I never enjoyed anything more in my life. 

On Wednesday after I was baptized I had a great 
trial of my faith. The devil brought back all the 



232 DIVINE HEALING 

symptoms of the disease, and tried very hard to 
make me doubt that the Lord ^had healed me; but 
praise our God, who always causeth us to triumph r 
that he did give me victory! " For this is the victory 
that overcometh the world, even our faith." And 
again he says: " Cast not away therefore your confi- 
dence, which hath great recompense of reward. Praise 
God for the reward of faith! The Lord did all for 
me that I was able to trust him for. Although for 
about six months I could not do very much hard 
work, not knowing how to trust the Lord for much 
as well as little; but since that time, which is now 
over three years, the Lord has wonderfully strength- 
ened me, and has enabled me to do as much work as 
most any one else, for which I do give God all the 
glory. O how much I realize the 2d verse of the 
30th Psalm as being my experience, which reads as 
follows: " O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and 
thou hast healed me!" And also Jas. 4: 10. — "Hum 
ble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will 
lift you up." I have always found him a friend in 
time of affliction. 

Your sister, sanctified and healed by the power of 
God. 

Mary E. Lambert. 

Givens, Tenn. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 233 

CRUTCHES THROWN AWAY. 

I feel it to the glory of God, and for the benefit of 
those who are afflicted, that I testify to the wonder- 
ful healing power of God. All my life since I was 
two and one-half years old I have been a cripple, 
afflicted with hip disease, and all I was able to walk 
at all, I had to use a crutch and cane, till I was nine- 
teen years old. But the first four years of that time 
I was not able to help myself out of bed, or walk a 
step. I suffered pain beyond description. 

For about thirteen years my parents employed 
the best physicians they could find, and tried every 
means to restore the use of that hip. But in spite 
of all they could do the hip was drawn out of joint, 
and grew out of place. (It is now nearly six inches 
shorter than the other.) After they found the leg 
could not be cured, and made whole like the other 
they tried every means to remove the pain, but all 
to no avail. The doctors gave it up. They said I 
must suffer on and in a few years die with the pain. 
I gave up all medicines in despair, never expecting 
to see a day free from pain. About three years after 
giving up medical treatment, I heard the true gospel 
preached, and on the twenty-third of January, 1883, 
I became acquainted with God, and realized the 
pardon of my sins. I heard some testify to God's 
healing power, so I immediately began to search the 












234 DIVINE HEALING 

scriptures to see if these things were so. I found 
he New Testament full of such cases wrought in 
olden times; then the question came, can such things 
be done now? The Bible before me answered: "God 
is the same yesterday, to day and forever." But do 
we have any right to pray for such things now? My 
Bible answered: "Is any among you afflicted, let 
him pray." — J as. 5: 13. But does this really mean 
poor unworthy me? "Every one that asketh re- 
ceiveth."— Matt. 7: 8. 

On what condition? "Whatsoever we ask we 
receive of him, because we keep his commandments, 
and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." 
— 1 John 3: 22. " And all things whatsoever ye shall 
ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." — Matt.21: 22. 
That was enough forme; I must ask; I must keep his 
commandments; I must do those things that are pleas- 
ing in his sight; I must believe his promises to be sure, 
then I should receive. In this way I looked to God 
with confidence (1 John 5: 14, 15) and asked for the 
pain to be removed from my hip. Instantly it was done. 
All the pain left while I was yet praying alone with 
God. It is now over eight years since God removed 
the pain, and I have never had a moment's pain in 
my hip since. This strengthened my faith to ask for 
more. In a few days I began to believe God could 
help me to walk without my crutch, so I asked the 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 233 

Lord about it, and the small voice whispered, "Jesus 
is all the crutch you need; trust in him." I imme- 
diately threw my crutches aside and have never felt 
the need of them since. The instant I began to walk 
by faith, trusting God for strength, I felt strength 
come, and I have felt no weakness in that hip since. 

I give God all the praise, for it was all done in 
answer to prayer, and was received while I was yet 
praying, and without the aid of medical treatment. 

Yours in Christ. 

J. A. Spaulding. 

413 Jane St., Kalamazoo, Mich., July 15, iSgi. 



HEALING OF CANCER AND CONSUMPTION. 

" He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most 
High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my 
fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he 
shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and 
from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee 
with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou 
trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler." 
— Psalms 91 : 1-4. 

In the fall of 1886 I was healed of cancer and con- 
sumption by the power of God, through the laying 
on of an anointed handkerchief, as taught in Acts 



236 DIVINE HEALING 

19: 12. For about six years I suffered with con- 
sumption, and with cancer for three years. 

We traveled from place to place in search of the 
climate that would cure consumption. I would get 
relief for a short time, but as soon as I became ac- 
climated my health would decline, and hemorrhages 
return. I felt that my stay on earth with my two 
little children would be very short. I had been in 
the doctor's care, used Scott's Emulsion of Cod Liver 
Oil, and drank blood as long as my stomach could 
retain it. 

It was a desperate fight for life. Had it not been 
for my desire to raise my children, I should have 
been glad to have been at rest. I was so weak that 
to try to sing, or to sweep one room would bring on 
a slight hemorrhage, 

O I do praise God for deliverance from this terri- 
ble suffering. I have been healed nearly five years,, 
and am enjoying the best of health, and a salva- 
tion that saves to the uttermost. Praise God for a 
religion that loses sight of all creeds and doctrines 
of men! 

Our daughter Lulu's healing was a wonderful mir- 
acle, and teaches us how God honors the faith of 
children. She suffered from a cancer in her face, 
and whenever it was troublesome, one in her stom- 
ach acted in sympathy with it. She suffered intense 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 237 

pain when she ate certain kinds of food, but there 
were times that her stomach would not retain any- 
solid food. Cancer doctors gave me no encourage- 
ment. The final attack lasted two weeks. The first 
week she partook of a little solid food, but the 
second week, if she ate the least particle of food, her 
suffering was so great that I could hardly stay in the 
room. O how I plead with God to spare her life, 
that it should be entirely devoted to his work. She 
never knew from what disease she was suffering, 
until one day she asked me what caused the pain in 
her stomach. I hesitated a few moments, as I did 
not want to frighten her by telling the cause. The 
thought then came to me that if God sent a disease 
that we could not control, I should not let her go 
out of the world ignorant of the cause of the suf- 
fering. At that time I did not know that the devil 
was the author of disease. I told her the cause 
of her sickness; also that I was praying for her and 
that we would do all in our power for her. She 
replied that if God wanted her to suffer from a cancer 
in her stomach, she was willing. She left the room 
to pray, and came back with a bright, happy look 
on her face, and asked for something to eat. I 
must confess that her faith was stronger than mine. 
I prepared a cup of cracker soup, which she ate, 
and all honor to our Physician who healeth all our 



2j8 DIVINE HEALING 

diseases; she was healed from that moment, and has 
never felt a symptom of the disease since. 

Your sister in Christ. 

Anna E. Albright. 

San Diego, Cal., Nov. 26, i8gi. 



THE LORD IS MY PHYSICIAN. 

Nearly two years ago I was taken with a bad di- 
arrhoea and piles, insomuch that I was unable to 
work. I could receive no benefit from doctors or 
any one else. I staid two weeks with a doctor, who 
performed a surgical operation, but it did no good. 
Finally I found that the more medicine that was 
used, the worse I became, and soon came to the 
conclusion if ever a cure was effected God would 
have to do it. 

I had read of faith cures, and heard of persons 
being healed by faith, and knew that the Word of 
God taught it, but knew of no one who claimed the 
power of healing by faith, except a " science cure " 
woman. But when told how she did the work, I 
concluded that I did not want to mortgage my soul 
to the devil for health. I began to pray for the 
Lord to send some one who had faith, that I might 
be healed. I gave up the use of medicine, and said 
I would take no more; and thought that if the Lord 
was going to heal me, no more medicine was needed. 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 239 

I believe this is the consecration every one must 
make if they would be healed of the Lord. God 
soon sent a brother who preached the Gospel in its 
purity, but my faith was not strong enough to be- 
lieve for healing. I read in the Gospel Trumpet — 
a holiness journal published at Grand Junction, Mich., 
— about how God had worked through certain breth- 
ren on the line of faith healing. I attended a camp- 
meeting in Gratiot County, Mich., and while there 
called for the elders, and was anointed with oil in 
the name of the Lord, and was healed, for which I 
give God all the praise and glory. 

Last winter I had a very severe attack of La 
Grippe, but some brethren came and I applied for 
healing, and the Lord instantly healed me. Since 
then I was taken sick with the same disease, and 
knew of no saints near enough to call to my assist- 
ance; so I called upon the Lord and he heard me, 
and healed me. Blessed be his name! 

Sherman L. Catlin. 

Muskegon, Mich., July 15, i8gi. 



A WONDERFUL ANSWER TO PRAYER. 

I desire to honor God by telling what he has done 
for me. A short time ago I was greatly afflicted with 
an abscess on my side, which caused such intense pain 
and suffering that I was near death's door. It became 



2 4 o DIVINE HEALING 

so bad that I could not move my arm. For three 
weeks I suffered in this way, taking morphine to kill 
the pain; but as soon as the effect of the morphine 
would leave, the pain would return as bad as ever. 
The doctor lanced it three times, and refused to do 
it any more. During this time I had failed to call 
upon God to heal me, until one night the Lord showed 
me in a dream that it was my privilege to be healed; 
so I sent for some of God's children to come and 
pray for me, but my faith did not seem to take hold 
of God for the healing. Shortly afterward I sent for 
some more of the brethren, who came and anointed 
me with oil and laid on hands, and the pain immedi- 
ately left, and I was enabled to use my arm; but that 
night the pain seemed to come back worse than ever, 
and I thought the Lord was going to take me home 
to live in his heavenly kingdom: so I called my 
family to my bedside and kissed them and bade them 
good bye, and told them I was going to die. But 
my wife said, " No, the Lord will heal you," and that 
seemed to give me courage, and the Lord impressed 
me more than ever that I could be healed. So I sent 
a.t once to the Trumpet office for Bro. Warner and 
Bro. Byrum to pray for me, and they arose from their 
beds — as it was about midnight — and asked God to 
heal me. And before my boy returned I was healed. 
The pain left instantly. The Lord did the lancing 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 241 

and did a complete work of it, and ever since that 
time I have been entirely free from pain. I am healed 
by the power of God. Blessed be his name! To 
him I give all the glory. 

I can recommend the Lord as a great physician, 
who forgiveth all our iniquities; who healeth all our 
diseases. — Psa. 103: 3. I am saved and sanctified, 
washed and redeemed through the blood of Jesus. 

C. Major. 

Grand Junction, Mich., Feb. 27, i8go. 

A CHANGE OF PHYSICIANS. 

Some years ago a wonderful case of healing was 
wrought in my family in answer to the prayer of 
faith. 

My child, who is now a fine, healthy boy of four- 
teen years, was then a poor little child of five sum- 
mers, and at the time spoken of seemed to be at the 
point of death. My husband wanted to change phy- 
sicians, and so did I, but the difference between us 
was, he wanted another one of the earthly sort, 
while I wanted to trust the Great Physician, Jesus 
Christ. He yielded to my request, but left me alone 
with my child and my God. The doctor's medicine 
was all gone, and the thought came to me that he 
will be dead before a doctor can get here. These 
words came to my mind: " Man's extremity is^God's 






2 4 2 DIVINE HEALING 

opportunity;" next, "The prayer of faith shall save 
the sick." I questioned myself thus: 1st, Do you 
believe that God can heal that child? My answer 
was, "Yes, he made him." 2d, If it is God's will 
to take him, can you submit? I answered, "Thy will 
be done, O God.', Then came the sweet assurance 
that the work would be done; and as I laid a cloth 
wet with cold water upon his face, my faith took 
hold of the promise, and the work was done that 
instant. Praise God forever and ever! 

Emma I. Coston. 
Muskegon, Mich. 

CONFIRMING TESTIMONY- 

The author has requested us to add our testimony 
of some things we have witnessed of the healing 
power ot God. To the glory of Him who worketh 
all things in the members of his redeemed church, 
we will speak of a few instances out of the hundreds, 
and could truthfully say thousands, of healing mir- 
acles that we have beheld in the last fifteen years. 

Out of the gratitude of my heart I would first ac- 
knowledge the good hand of God that has been 
upon myself. I had long been afflicted with a 
very bad cough, and was pronounced a consumptive 
over twenty-five years ago, when I yielded to the 
solemn call of God to preach his Gospel. He then 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 24.3 

promised to heal and sustain me, and he has remem- 
bered his covenant unto his unworthy servant in a 
marvelous manner. He has been my strength in all 
my labors, and has many times instantaneously and 
wondrously healed me of various afflictions. Blessed 
be his name forever! 

I was a witness to the great miracle performed upon 
Sister Lodema Kaser, reported in this work. She 
was carried into the house as helpless as a dead per- 
son and nearly as unconscious. After the Lord 
healed her internal injuries, and removed the dread- 
ful chill that had seized upon her almost lifeless 
body, she found her arm crushed and in great pain. 
A sister undertook an examination, but the pain was 
so great she could scarcely bear to have her arm 
moved or the wound touched. So we desisted, say- 
ing, "The Lord knows all about it and that is 
enough." We placed our hands on the arm as 
lightly as possible, and called upon the Lord to 
heal it. Instantly his Spirit witnessed that it was 
done, and she held up her arm and praised the Lord, 
Presently her restored arm embraced Sister Cole r 
after which she arose every whit whole. 

A few days later Sister Kaser having excessively 
used her arm in work, the lately knit parts gave way 
and she felt the broken bones grate together. This 
circumstance enabled her to know more surely that 



244 DIVINE HEALING 

her bones had been broken, and that God had in- 
deed instantly knit and healed them. Continuing to 
trust God, and more carefully favoring that arm for 
a few days, it was all sound. Not long after, Dr. 
Bryant, of Galesburg, Kan., examined her arm, and 
informed her that it gave clear evidence of having 
been broken. 

So it is evident that the same God who was skillful 
enough to create Eve out of a rib, also understands 
how to set and quickly restore broken bones, as well 
as heal all manner of diseases; and can be safely 
trusted under all circumstances. 

One morning early, while our company were at 
Bro. Ahijah Bardens, near Walkerton, Ind., Brother 
Wolfenberger, having heard of our arrival, came 
after us to pray for the restoration of their sick boy, 
Perry. After breakfast Bro. Barden took us all to 
the place, and we found a very sick child indeed. A 
council of physicians the day before had pronounced 
it a very dangerous case of spinal fever. Shortly after 
we entered the house the attending physician came 
in, who was also a preacher. While he was making 
his examinations, dealing out his drugs, and giving 
directions for the doses to be imposed upon the 
poor little sufferer every hour and half hour, we 
were all communing with our God, and his glorious 
Spirit assured us the Lord would heal the boy. Fi 






OF SOUL AND BODY. 243 

nally the doctor remarked, "Perhaps my treatment 
interferes with other arrangements." The Spirit of 
God was wonderfully upon us, and moved us to 
speak as follows: " This family has called us here 
to pray for the healing of this child, and we believe 
God will do the work. But he must have the case 
entirely in his hands; for he does not practice in 
conjunction with the medical systems of men. And 
now it is for these parents to say whether they wish 
your treatment continued, or whether they will let 
the Lord take the case." Sister Wolfenberger im- 
mediately remarked, " We will give him into the 
hands of the Lord." And God instantly blessed her 
soul. We spoke in the Spirit, saying, " God is pres- 
ent to heal the child." The preacher-doctor ironic- 
ally replied, "Then I'll stay and see it done." But 
ere we had time to frame a reply the Spirit of God 
spoke through our lips, "Perhaps God does not want 
you present. In olden times unbelievers were put 
out when the sick were to be healed, and the dead 
raised." The man had been opposing the work of 
God's holiness in the place, and these words stung 
him to the heart, to think that he, a preacher, was 
not a fit man to be present where God was to show 
his power. "So," said he, "you say I must leave, 
must I? " " No sir, I do not say so. God can do 
his work whether you are present or absent. But 



246 DIVINE HEALING 

this you know very well, you have no fellowship 
with us; no faith in God for the healing of the sick 
and consequently, your presence is no benefit." He 
sat in silence, and confident that the mighty power 
of God would drive him out, we hesitated. Perhaps 
wishing to make capital of our ordering him out, he 
again said, "Then you say I must leave?" To which 
we replied, " No sir, I do not say you must leave, 
but God will have his own way." Praise God! he 
immediately took his departure. 

The little sufferer was then anointed, and with 
difficulty we laid our hands upon him, as he was 
rolling about, extremely sick, and burning with 
fever. After prayer, by faith in God we pronounced 
him healed. Immediately his eyes opened, the fever 
left, and the skin became moist. As the affectionate 
family thronged his bed with tears of gratitude to 
God, Perry said to his sister, " Bring me a cookie." 
A large cookie was brought and eaten with much 
relish. " Bring me another cookie, and some meat," 
his keen appetite requested. They were brought and 
eaten as by a hungry laborer. He had taken scarcely 
any food for four days. In a few moments he was 
out of bed, sound and well, and continued so 

While the father was gone after us, their daughter 
who had been called home the night before by tele- 
gram, thought since they were going to apply to 



OF SOUL AND BODY. 24J 

Jesus for the healing of her brother, she would 
honor him by giving her heart to the Lord. So she 
withdrew to a room and sought the Lord, and found 
peace to her soul. After witnessing the wonderful 
miracle, the hired girl also knelt down and called on 
God for mercy, and found peace in believing. And 
there was great joy in that house. 

The wife of Bro. Elihu Bragg, a few miles from 
Sweetser, Grant county, Ind., had been near death's 
door for twelve days. We arrived in the neighbor- 
hood on Friday. The same evening a brother called 
and prayed with her, when she received a slight 
touch of the hand of God, and somewhat revived. 
Up to that time she had lain helpless for some days, 
and scarcely noticed anything around her. On Sat- 
urday we all met there. To quicken her faith, some 
scriptures were read, and some testimonies of heal- 
ing were given. Finally the doctor who had called 
about the time we arrived, arose, and with tears re- 
marked that he had once been converted. " But," 
says he, " I now see from your testimonies I should 
have gone on to a deeper experience. I also believe 
in the power of God to heal the sick, and I believe 
God will heal this woman today." The mighty 
presence and power of God moved this testimony 
from his lips, to let us know that the doctor was not 
in the way of God's work. For that class are usually 



248 DIVINE HEALING 

very skeptical in regard to God healing people, and 
some are even jealous of his work. 

We drew the bed from the wall, and surrounded it 
upon our knees. After prayer, anointing, and the 
laying on of hands, God instantly raised up the poor 
woman. She sat up and praised God. Called for 
her clothes, dressed, and walked the floor praising 
the Lord. Some neighbors — sectarians — being pres- 
ent, pronounced it excitement, and predicted that 
she would be in her grave in three days. But, blessed 
be the name of the Lord! she continued well, and on 
Monday came three miles to the meeting, coming 
into the house leaping and shouting; and has ever 
since enjoyed better health than for years. 

These cases we give as samples of the work we 
frequently behold wrought by the hand of our gra- 
cious and mighty Physician. Stiff arms have been 
instantly restored and raised up, with praises to 
God. Blind eyes have been opened, deaf ears un- 
stopped. The lame have been made to cast away 
their crutches and canes, and walk and leap for joy. 
And about all kinds of diseases healed by the power 
of God, and^in the ^almighty name of Jesus, To 
whom be all the praise and glory, world without 
end. Amen. D. S. Warner. 






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